Birmingham rapper convicted over video aimed at Tommy Robinson

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.”