A Birmingham man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for making death threats against the English Defence League (EDL) and its former leader, Tommy Robinson, all the whilst brandishing what looked like an AK-47 assault rifle. Habeeb Khan, aged 49, reportedly filmed the threats during the summer of 2024, amid heightened social tensions across the UK following the tragic Southport knife attack on July 29.
Khan's video, posted on August 6, quickly went viral, gathering over 1.4 million views on various far-right accounts on X, previously known as Twitter. The footage was considered inflammatory, with many concerned about the violent rhetoric it propagated, particularly during a time when racial tensions were already high.
According to prosecutors, Khan was seen fitting a magazine to the decommissioned weapon and shouting, "EDL we're coming to f*** blow you away you m*******!" He also directed threats at Robinson, saying, "Hey Tommy, Tommy Robinson, you want to f play rough, aye? Okay, come on, you want to play rough? I'll blow you away, you f*** cockroach!" These shocking statements came at the tail end of several anti-immigration demonstrations and riots throughout the UK, which reached alarming levels during the same week.
Judge Melbourne Inman KC, when passing the sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, referred to Khan's actions as "very reckless." He confirmed they represented part of the broader chaotic backdrop fueled by misinformation surrounding the Southport incident, which involved the tragic deaths of multiple children and shocking allegations surrounding the suspect's ethnicity.
Khan's video was shared widely; one account on X called it "the most serious threat to protesters everywhere" and went so far as to claim, "All mosques need raiding now!" This inflammatory discourse, stemming from Khan's provocations, raised significant alarm among local communities and authorities.
The court proceedings revealed Khan had been apprehended just one day after the video was posted, on August 7. When arrested, police officers discovered the decommissioned rifle displayed prominently within his home. Khan's claims of innocence—that he had merely made “a little video”—were contradicted by the demands of the crowd outside during his arrest.
Adding complexity to the situation, during his detention at City Hospital following health-related issues, Khan exhibited abusive behavior, even using homophobic slurs against police officers. Prosecutor Laurie Scott confirmed Khan had been confrontational, stating he made the officers' job difficult at the hospital.
While the court acknowledged his prior convictions, which included racially aggravated public order offenses, Judge Melbourne noted Khan’s claims of mental health struggles. Defense counsel Sunit Sandhu pointed to Khan’s bipolar disorder and stated he is "genuinely remorseful" for his actions and the fallout. Sandhu also mentioned Khan's contributions to his community, emphasizing the irony of this situation—while he had once tried to ‘clean the streets’ and deter local crime, this recent video showcased him participating in social discord.
For Khan, he will need to serve at least 40% of his sentence before being eligible for release. His case, emblematic of growing divisions and the reckless use of social media, reflects just how polarizing rhetoric can escalate tensions within communities already suffering from unrest and fear.
With Khan now incarcerated, many anticipate the potential future ramifications as underlying issues related to civil unrest continue to surface across the UK. The case mirrors others stemming from the same summer, showcasing how personal grievances find their way onto public platforms, exacerbated by the throes of societal tension.
It remains imperative for both community leaders and authorities alike to address these rising tensions with care and diligence, ensuring conversations around race, inclusion, and safety do not devolve as they did during these volatile events.
