Arrested after councilor told of ‘threat’

A man has been arrested after a West Yorkshire councilor claimed he was threatened with a “threatening” phone call while campaigning.

Ammar Anwar, who represents Dewsbury West ward on Kirklees Council, said he then found someone “waiting” outside his home on Friday night.

Writing on X, Mr Anwar said it was “the most disheartening event I have witnessed in my 20-year political career”.

West Yorkshire Police said a man from Dewsbury has been detained on suspicion of public order offences.

In a lengthy social media post, Mr Anwar described the threat made in the call as “serious” and said he immediately reported the matter to the police and provided a statement.

He added that upon returning to his family home, where his wife, children and mother were present, he found the suspect “waiting outside”.

He added: “On entering the house I immediately called 999 for emergency assistance.

“The police responded promptly and made an arrest despite a barrage of threats and abuse directed at my family.

“In the UK we value freedom of expression and the right to participate in local and national politics must always be protected.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Kirklees Police were contacted on Friday afternoon by a man who said he had been the victim of threatening calls and behavior in the Dewsbury area.

“Following inquiries, police have now arrested a man from Dewsbury on suspicion of public order offences. The investigations remain ongoing.”

Mr Anwar was previously a Labor councilor but resigned from the party in January in protest at the leadership’s stance on the Gaza conflict.

Since then he has been an independent consultant.

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