Jeremy Corbyn could be targeted by right-wing terrorists following “ludicrous” claims he was a Cold War spy, his spokesman warned today.

Racist murderer Darren Osborne, convicted over van attack on Muslims near Finsbury Mosque last June, declared he originally wanted to kill the Labour leader at a pro-Palestinian march in London.

And Mr Corbyn's spokesman feared mounting allegations in right-wing newspapers about him meeting a Czech spy could trigger violence against the party chief.

He said: “The coverage of this story has shown little regard for the facts or for the demonstrable absurdity of the allegations being made by an agent who was retired nearly 30 years ago from his job and has now found his five minutes of fame.

“In relation to threats and security, obviously the trial of Darren Osborne in relation to the terror attack after the general election in Finsbury Park, in which he stated that he wanted to kill Jeremy Corbyn , and that was his first aim.

Darren Osborne, convicted over van attack on Muslims, wanted to kill the Labour leader (
Image:
PA)

"And referring to Jeremy as a terrorist sympathiser and that if he managed to kill him that would be one less terrorist.

"I think highlights serious dangers of the use of language and reporting, and the issue of politicians around Jeremy's leadership and the Labour Party leadership, and the importance of framing completely legitimate political debate in ways that don't incite hatred or violence.”

Mr Corbyn has admitted meeting Czech agent Jan Sarkocy but said he believed he was a diplomat. He has flatly denied "smears" that he was paid for information or knew he was meeting a spy.

Today Mr Corbyn's spokesman rubbished a suggestion the MP met a Czech spy in London on October 24, 1987.

He was at a socialist conference in Chesterfield on that day – and his mother died the day before, the spokesman said.

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Last night Mr Corbyn warned newspapers "change is coming" in a video rubbishing "smears" about his past.

A Downing Street source hit back at the video today, saying "it's the job of elected politicians to provide answers" - not shoot the messenger or "complain" about scrutiny.

The robust defence came as Mr Corbyn today demanded an apology and a charity donation over a Tory MP's tweet that he sold secrets to communist spies.

The Labour leader's lawyers wrote to Conservative vice-chairman Ben Bradley over the libellous allegation, which he later deleted. The letter warns the MP that “our client’s reputation has been or is likely to be seriously harmed by your publication of the offending tweet and by re-tweets”.

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn's lawyers have written to the Tory MP Ben Bradley

It adds: “Your statement that our client sold British secrets to communist spies is untrue.

“The inference that our client, whom you know to be the Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition and the Leader of the Labour Party, had engaged in criminal acts of treachery and spying could not be more seriously harmful of a British citizen, let alone such a prominent politician.

As the vice-chairman of the Conservative Party you are fully aware of the serious harm that was caused or was likely to be caused to our client’s reputation by your defamatory statement.”

Today Theresa May cracked a joke at the expense of Mr Corbyn, saying "I know he likes Czechs" during Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Corbyn responded by giving an exaggerated yawn.