58-year-old man bailed on suspicion of malicious communications

A 58-year-old man in the West Midlands has been bailed until April, pending further inquiries on suspicion of malicious communications.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was arrested in the Rowley Regis area, just south of Dudley, by West Midlands Police. He was held in custody and questioned on Monday, but has now been released on bail.

The arrest follows complaints about a number of social media posts.

In a statement, the police said: “With the current situation in Israel and Gaza, we continue to work with partners and communities to listen, understand and keep people safe.

“This is a worrying time for many, especially those with friends or family in the region. We’re continually assessing the impact these global events have on people locally.

“Hate has no place in the West Midlands and we will investigate all reported crimes where people are targeted just because of who they are”.