Farage ‘in fear for life’ after Afghan migrant TikTok threat

Nigel Farage told a jury at Southwark Crown Court that he was “genuinely worried” and “in fear for his life” after a man allegedly threatened to kill him in a video posted on TikTok.

The Reform UK leader said he had become “deeply concerned” after seeing a recording made by Afghan national Fayaz Khan, 26, in which Khan appeared to make a gun gesture and said “pop, pop, pop” while referring directly to Mr Farage by name.

Prosecutors allege Khan uploaded the video last October, days after Mr Farage featured him in one of his own online broadcasts about Channel crossings and immigration. In the footage posted to YouTube, Mr Farage highlighted Khan’s journey from continental Europe to the UK, drawing attention to a Kalashnikov tattoo on his cheek and questioning whether this was “the kind of man we wanted in Britain.”

The court heard that Khan, also known by the name Madapasa, had previously documented his travels across Sweden, Germany and France before arriving in the UK on a small boat in October 2024. His videos often referenced his plans to reach Britain and his frustration at European asylum procedures.

Following Mr Farage’s broadcast, Khan is said to have posted a TikTok response demanding that the politician delete his YouTube video. The short clip, which has since circulated widely online, showed Khan addressing Mr Farage directly, saying:

“English man Nigel, do not talk s*** about me. I want to marry with your sister.”

He then made the gun gesture, repeated:

“Pop, Pop, Pop”

and headbutted his phone before the video cut out.

Giving evidence, Mr Farage told jurors that he had seen a great deal of online abuse throughout his political career but had “never before” encountered an individual personally threatening him and describing the means by which they intended to do it.

“It was everywhere,” he said. “My phone was going ping ping ping because I had highlighted his case. I believed this man to be a gangster with a violent history. Given his proximity and love of guns, I was genuinely, genuinely worried.”

He added that he had viewed Khan’s content as evidence of “a young male of fighting age” coming to Britain illegally and said the tattoo of an assault rifle suggested an aggressive disposition. “Do they have that tattoo at your local golf club? I doubt it,” he told the defence when challenged.

Defence counsel Charles Royle suggested that Mr Farage had drawn attention to Khan’s case because it “suited your narrative” on immigration. Mr Farage denied this, saying his intention was to raise public awareness of who was arriving on British shores.

Khan, of no fixed abode, denies one count of making threats to kill. He told police after his arrest that he had been shown the video of Mr Farage’s commentary but believed it was a fabrication.

Through a Dari interpreter, he said his own TikTok video was “not a threat” and that the phrase “pop pop pop” did not refer to a firearm. He also claimed not to know who Mr Farage was at the time of posting.

The court was told Khan was arrested at the point of his arrival in the UK on 31 October last year. Officers had identified him from his distinctive facial tattoo and online presence.

Mrs Justice Steyn, presiding, reminded jurors that Mr Farage was “a well-known politician” but instructed them to put aside any political views and decide the case solely on the evidence presented.

She also cautioned the jury not to conduct any independent research or use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to assist them in deliberations, warning that doing so would constitute a criminal offence.

The trial, which is expected to continue throughout the week, will hear further evidence before the jury retires to consider its verdict.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.