UK Man Sentenced for Encouraging Terrorism

Patrick Ruane, a 55-year-old Covid denier, has been sentenced to five years in prison for encouraging terrorism through social media posts that threatened violence against key figures such as Professor Sir Chris Whitty and the AstraZeneca vaccine creator. Judge Richard Marks at the Old Bailey described Ruane's messages as 'extremely dangerous,' especially during a volatile time when public sentiment regarding vaccines was fraught. Ruane's posts included graphic suggestions for assaults and indicated a mindset characterized by compulsive and obsessive behavior towards the vaccine rollout. The judge noted that Ruane was often intoxicated while making these threats, which reached a vast audience on Telegram, including groups with thousands of members. Prosecutors emphasized that Ruane's messages could potentially incite actual violence, highlighting a broader concern about the impact of conspiracy theories during the pandemic. This case follows a troubling trend of escalating threats against public health officials amidst widespread misinformation.