Man pleads guilty over gun video containing ‘death threats’

A man has admitted posting a viral video online threatening members of the English Defense League (EDL) during the summer riots.

Habeeb Khan, 49, was arrested in August after a video of him holding an imitation AK-47 assault rifle was posted on social media.

A previous hearing was told the film had been viewed 1.4 million times.

At Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, Khan admitted sending a communication threatening death or serious harm to the EDL and the former leader of the defunct far-right group, Tommy Robinson.

However, he denied the second charge of possessing an imitation firearm; This claim was accepted by the prosecution.

Khan, of Sparkbrook, was taken into custody and will be sentenced on December 19.

He was accused of publishing the video between 4 and 6 August, as violence flared across the country following the stabbings in Southport, partly driven by the false claim that the perpetrator was a UK asylum seeker. small boat

In the video posted on X, Khan was dressed in all black, including gloves, sunglasses and a face mask.

He was seen making swearing and threats towards EDL members.

Defense lawyer Sunit Sandhu said Khan was suffering from mental health problems due to medication.

Adjourning the case, Judge Melbourne Inman KC told Khan a pre-sentence report would be prepared.

“This is not indicative of the type of sentence, but it is important that I know as much as possible about you and your history,” he said.

At the time of Khan’s arrest, West Midlands Police said the video was spread on social media on the same day as disturbances in Bordesley Green, triggered by false rumors online that a far-right march was taking place in the area.