Michael Brown pleads guilty to anti‑Jewish hate‑crime Facebook post in UK

Michael Brown, 45, of Newhaven, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London to sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message over Facebook. In the post, made on 28 February, he urged others to "pelt local synagogues" with eggs, flour and stink bombs and asked for a "good recipe for roasted Synagogue." The message was a response to a Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign post that criticised the US‑Israel strike on Iran. Prosecutor Emily Thornton argued the case should be treated as a race‑hate crime and sought a tougher sentence. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring warned a custodial term was possible, but adjourned sentencing to 1 September. Brown was remanded on unconditional bail pending a pre‑sentence report and probation assessment, maintaining the post was intended as a joke.