A Co Armagh man has been charged with making social media death threats to New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Matthew Burns (19), of Dundalk Road, Newtownhamilton, appeared before Newry Magistrates Court on Friday where a detective constable from the PSNI’s cyber crime unit said he could connect the accused to the charges.
Ms Ardern was widely praised in March for her response to mass shootings at two mosques in the city of Christchurch in which 50 people died.
The court heard a Twitter message with a photograph of a gun and the words "you’re next" was said to have been sent to Ms Arden on March 20th, days after the attack.
Mr Burns was further charged with making similar threats to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Facebook in December.
The accused was arrested on April 11th. The court heard that during interview Mr Burns said he had far-right political leanings and negative sentiment towards minorities, Muslims and LGBT people.
The court heard similar posts towards minorities are under investigation by the PSNI.
The case was adjourned until May 8th and the defendant was released on £500 bail with a £1,000 cash surety on the condition that he has no internet connection and adheres to a curfew.