By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has come under fire and been called “disgusting” for “cheap political point scoring,” after he used the carnage in Brussels to back his Brexit campaign.
The controversial figure has been branded as “disgusting” for using the deadly Brussels attacks as a reason to quit the European Union.
He was called “shameless Brexit scum” after he retweeted a message on Twitter whilst explosions were killing scores of people in the Belgian capital.
Allison Pearson, a Telegraph columnist, wrote on Twitter the city was “the jihadist capital of Europe”, adding: “And the Remainers dare to say we’re safer in the EU! #Brexit.”
Brussels, de facto capital of the EU, is also the jihadist capital of Europe. And the Remainers dare to say we're safer in the EU! #Brexit
— Allison Pearson (@allisonpearson) March 22, 2016
Despite the levels of criticism, Nigel Farage posted it out to his followers as the tragedy was still unfolding.
Other social media users hammered the MEP with a barrage of abuse for “scoring cheap political points”.
One person called the retweet: “The most insensitive thing I have EVER seen.
UKIP have now put out a statement blaming the attacks on the Schengen agreement on the free movement of people:
MEP Mike Hookem said: “This horrific act of terrorism shows that Schengen free movement and lax border controls are a threat to our security.”
#UKIP‘s press release blaming #Schengen for #Brusselsattacks #Brussels pic.twitter.com/VEznFp6paM
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) March 22, 2016