Rapper convicted over Tommy Robinson video

A rapper has been found guilty of posting a "menacing" video on social media, aimed at the former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

In it, he mentioned artillery and made a gun gesture while shouting "pow, pow, pow".

Omar Abdirizak, 31, denied sending a message of a menacing character contrary to the Communications Act 2003.

But he was convicted by Birmingham Magistrates Court after a two-hour trial.

The video, which attracted more than two million views, was reposted by Yaxley-Lennon alongside a claim that it was a threat to murder him due to "lies" by the media and politicians, the court heard.

Prosecutor Tim Talbot-Webb told the court references to guns and artillery made by the Birmingham-based rapper, known as Twista Cheese, meant it had crossed the line from freedom of speech into criminality.

Abdirizak denied making direct threats to Yaxley-Lennon.

The drill rapper said he had decided to make the video and publicise his music on YouTube and TikTok to his 20,000 followers "to put Tommy Robinson in his place".

He said he made it after seeing footage of broadcaster Piers Morgan and influencer Andrew Tate discussing issues connected to last summer's riots.

During the minute-long video, Abdirizak, wearing a patterned hoodie and grey jogging bottoms, said he was a Somali pirate.

He also said he had a message for Yaxley-Lennon, before adding he had "Muslims in every corner" and "look at the artillery we've got".

He told the court: "Even when I say 'bam, bam, bam', this is all entertainment."

The singer, of Long Street, Sparkbrook, denied making a gun gesture in the video and said the references to artillery were an encouragement to viewers to seek out a music video made in Somalia which featured rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

But Mr Talbot-Webb reminded the court the video was made during the summer riots, aimed at mosques and other institutions.

"The Crown say that by making references to pirates and artillery... any member of the public seeing that could well have been caused apprehension of serious violence," he said.

Abdirizak was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced on 12 February after the court expressed concern at "hidden disabilities" that needed to be explored, including mental health issues.

He will also be sentenced for possession of cannabis and a racially aggravated public order offence.

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