A Birmingham rapper has been convicted for a menacing TikTok video targeting Tommy Robinson, raising concerns over public safety.
Birmingham: So, there’s this rapper, Omar Abdirizak, also known as Twista Cheese, who just got convicted for a video he posted on TikTok. The video was pretty intense, showing him making gun gestures and shouting “pow, pow, pow” while talking about artillery. Not exactly the kind of content you want to see, right?
He made this video last August, and it didn’t sit well with the courts. Even though he pleaded not guilty, the judge found him guilty after a short trial. The prosecutor pointed out that the video crossed the line from just being free speech to something more serious.
Tommy Robinson, the guy in the video, reposted it and claimed it was a threat against him. The video blew up, getting over 2 million views. Abdirizak argued he wasn’t making direct threats but just trying to respond to some issues from last summer’s riots.
He insisted it was all for entertainment, saying things like, “if you come – self-defence.” But the judge wasn’t buying it. He said the video clearly referenced firearms, especially with the gestures Abdirizak made.
Now, Abdirizak is out on conditional bail until his sentencing on February 12. The court is also looking into some mental health issues he might have. Plus, he’s facing charges for having cannabis and a racially aggravated public order offence. Quite the situation, huh?
