Two Green Party candidates arrested over alleged antisemitic online posts

Two Green Party candidates standing in the upcoming local elections in England have been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred.

The Metropolitan Police said the arrests followed an investigation launched after "concerns" were reported on 21 April about "antisemitic material that had been posted online".

The Met said: "Police have arrested two women, aged 57 and 54, on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred online, an offence under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986. They remain in police custody."

A Green Party spokesperson said: "This now a police matter. We won't be commenting at this stage."

One of the candidates has been suspended from the party, the BBC understands.

Asked about the arrests on BBC Question Time, Green deputy leader Rachel Millward said that the alleged comments by the candidates were "abhorrent" and they were "going through disciplinary process".