A man has been arrested following investigations into a Twitter post that called for people to “Jo Cox” an MP.

Anna Soubry, the Conservative MP for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire, was the apparent target of an online message which read: “someone jo cox Anna sourby please”.

The politician responded to the message on social media, calling the Twitter user a “sad cowardly troll” and noting the differently spelled surname.

Nottinghamshire police later confirmed they were investigating the incident.

Afterwards Soubry tweeted: “Thank u everyone for much appreciated support. Voices of hope & tolerance will not be bullied off #Twitter or anywhere else.”

On Saturday the Metropolitan police said a 25-year-old man was arrested at his home in Bethnal Green on suspicion of sending malicious communications.

A spokesman said the man was in custody in an east London police station. He has not been charged.

Cox’s murderer, 43-year-old Thomas Mair, was jailed for life for shooting and stabbing the Labour MP for Batley and Spen outside her constituency office in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June.

Soubry was a Remain supporter in the EU referendum, as was Cox.