A man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of threatening to kill Nigel Farage. Fayaz Khan, a 26-year-old small boat migrant from Afghanistan, was convicted for making threats against the Reform UK leader in a TikTok post. Prosecutors described the threat as serious and menacing, emphasizing its calculated nature.
During the sentencing at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Khan had provided false information to British authorities, using a different name due to his criminal history in Sweden. Records indicate that Khan has been convicted of 17 offenses on 12 separate occasions, mostly low-level crimes including drug-related offenses.
In response to the sentencing, Mr. Farage expressed satisfaction with the verdict but raised concerns about Khan potentially being released in 18 months. Khan, while being taken into custody, protested that he did not intend to harm Mr. Farage and wanted to return to Afghanistan to be with his family.
The judge, Mrs. Justice Steyn, concurred with Mr. Farage’s assessment of the threats as “chilling” and criticized Khan for his false identity and criminal record. The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the seriousness of the case, emphasizing the need to protect elected officials from harm or intimidation.
Khan’s defense lawyer argued that his client’s actions were meant to be comedic and attention-seeking rather than a genuine threat. The court also heard about Khan’s response to a video uploaded by Mr. Farage, where Khan made menacing gestures and referenced using firearms.
Detective Constable Liam Taylor revealed that Khan had live-streamed his journey across the English Channel and was arrested upon his arrival in the UK. Despite Khan’s claims that his videos were not intended as threats, the court found his actions to be alarming and deserving of a significant sentence.