Jodie Comer feared for her life after a French stalker threatened to kill her

Killing Eve star Jodie Comer feared for her life after a French stalker threatened to kill her, before a man was arrested by police in France on Tuesday.

The actress, 28, best known for her role as an assassin Villanelle, alerted authorities after receiving sinister online threats, and an anonymous man, 44, was apprehended after police stormed his home in the city of Roubaix.

Jodie, who was visibly absent from social media while police investigated her case, received terrifying messages from a stalker, including a warning: “I’m coming to England to create carnage.”

It is believed that tech experts were brought in after Jodie and her family received the threats, which were attributed to the town of Roubaix in northern France.

Armed officers raided the man’s home in a dawn raid last month and took him into custody.

Computer files and other technical equipment were seized during the raid, when the man cooperated with officers.

The Lille prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday that the alleged threats from a man living in nearby Roubaix were “a matter of great concern”.

A spokesperson for the Lille public prosecutor’s office said: “Following an official approach by the British authorities, a man has been taken into custody for acts of harassment against an English actress”.

A man was arrested in Roubaix last month, the source said, and is currently on bail while prosecutors and the judicial police await the results of a medical examination.

The “harassment campaign” started on social media and then moved to email when members of Jodie’s immediate family were also threatened.

A police source in Roubaix said: “There is clearly great concern because someone has sent death threats to the actress.

“Police here were first contacted by UK police on June 30 and asked to investigate ahead of the arrest.

“The investigation involves threats and harassment made via social media and by email against actress Jodie Comer and members of her family.”

When the investigation was opened, Jodie was visibly absent from her Instagram account, having not posted any pictures of June 7 and July 20.

The star has since returned to the platform and shared a photo of athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson on Tuesday ahead of her appearance at the Tokyo Olympics.

The star has also since limited comments on her posts, meaning she has control over who can leave comments on her snaps.

MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Jodie Comer for comment.

In recent weeks, Jodie has been filming the fourth and final series of Killing Eve and was spotted on the show’s set in Margate last month.

She had previously stated that she would miss playing her “daring” character Villanelle before the fourth and final series of Killing Eve.

The actress, who was nominated for Leading Actress Gong for her role at the 2021 BAFTA TV Awards, discussed the BBC hit series in a question-and-answer session chaired by Rhianna Dhillon ahead of the ceremony at the time.

Speaking about what she’ll miss most playing the assassin Villanelle once Killing Eve airs her fourth and final series, Jodie admitted, “My God, oh my God I’m like, ‘Don’t say that out loud. ! ‘ Oh my God, I had so much fun.

“As long as there is some truth in what you say, playing can be big and it can be bold and it can be in your face and it can be a little ugly and it can be all these different things like everything isn’t. shouldn’t be super subtle.

“I don’t know any other word I can think of, but you know what I mean?” I’m guessing just to be a little more daring, you know. You don’t have to feel like a fool about what you want to do. I had so much fun.

“I’ve been in such weird, funny situations, and I’ve met some amazing, amazing people, so yeah, I think that’s what I’ll miss the most.”