UK: Milkshake thrown at Brexit Party leader Farage

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Nigel Farage, leader of the newly founded Brexit Party, Monday became the latest victim of a milkshake attack in Newcastle where he went for a rally ahead of this week’s European elections.

Milkshake, one of the favorite drinks for children, has become the latest weapon against political figures with far-right ideology in the U.K. as anti-racism activists target them in rallies across the country.

Paul Crowther, 32, from Throckley in Newcastle said the milkshake was banana and salted caramel flavor from a burger chain, according to The Mirror daily.

"I didn't know he was in town, I thought this is my only chance," Crowther was quoted by the British tabloid as saying.

Crowther was arrested shortly after he threw the milkshake at the former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader, according to reports from local media.

"A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault and remains in police custody," local police said.

Nigel Farage later tweeted: "Sadly some remainers have become radicalised, to the extent that normal campaigning is becoming impossible,” he wrote.

Throwing milkshake at far-right figures has become a trending way of dealing with them after Tommy Robinson -- a far-right Islamophobe activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon -- was hit with the drink during a walkabout in Warrington, Cheshire more than a week ago.

A Muslim man, Danyal Mahmud, threw the milky drink he was holding at Robinson when he was confronted by the former English Defence League leader and a footage of the incident went viral across the U.K.

Robinson and his bodyguards were seen in the video to respond by throwing several punches at Mahmud.

Robinson was again targeted in a milkshake assault in Bury, Manchester, in a separate incident last week.