VIDEO: Ex-"Israeli" lobbyist arrested for attempting to solicit minor

UK police confirmed the arrest of a former British Member of Parliament, Ivor Caplin, following allegations of engaging in online sexual communications with a minor.

A video that surfaced over the weekend shows a man wearing a trench coat and red cap being confronted by self-styled "paedophile hunters" before his arrest by British police.

Caplin, a former Labour MP for Hove in southern England, served until 2005 and held a junior ministerial role in Tony Blair’s government. 

From 1997 to 2005, Caplin was also vice chairman of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), a UK parliamentary group promoting strong bilateral relations between the UK and "Israel".

Caplin also previously chaired the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), a group with close ties to the "Israeli" embassy in the UK. During his tenure, the organization was central to campaigns accusing public figures, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, of anti-Semitism.

In a statement, the Sussex Police addressed the situation, saying, “We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing a man in Brighton being detained on suspicion of engaging in online sexual communications with a child. Officers can confirm that a local 66-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, January 11, and currently remains in custody.”

Caplin denied the allegations. However, his arrest comes months after the Labour Party suspended him in May last year over “serious allegations” that have not been publicly disclosed.