A Conservative councillor has been suspended over tweets that appeared to express support for the detention of Muslims.

The tweets, which were posted by Cllr Linda Freedman, seemed to back the internment of Japanese and German nationals – including her own family – by the United States during the Second World War.

They were posted in response to a Washington Post article by Star Trek actor George Takei warning against any modern internment of Muslims in the United States.

It comes amid a wider political row about allegations of Islamophobia among members of the Conservative Party.

A screenshot of the tweets, which was taken on November 18, 2016 – before Ms Freedman became a councillor – displays a Washington Post tweet saying: “George Takei: They interned my family. Don’t let them do it to Muslims.”

In response, Ms Freedman wrote: “They interned my German ones for 1 year during WW2. It was the right thing to do for the sake of security.”

Mr Takei’s article was written after high-profile Donald Trump supporter Carl Higbie claimed Japanese internment during the Second World War set a legal precedent for a potential registry of Muslim immigrants in the modern-day US.

Yesterday (May 31), shadow chancellor John McDonnell posted the screenshot in a tweet stating: “The Muslim Council of Britain has called upon the Conservative Party to launch inquiry into Islamaphobia [sic] in party.

“Could I suggest they start with asking this Barnet Conservative Councillor about her views which if true seem to support the detention of Muslims for being Muslims.”

Cllr Freedman, who was elected to Edgware ward in May, was suspended from the Hendon Conservative Association and had the whip withdrawn by the Barnet Council Conservative Group last night (May 31), pending an investigation.

Barnet Council leader Cllr Richard Cornelius said: “Following historic tweets by Cllr Linda Freedman being brought to our attention, she was suspended last night from the Hendon Conservative Association and the Barnet Council Conservative Group, pending an internal investigation.

“Barnet Conservatives were proud to have been returned to office with an increased and diverse group of councillors from many different faiths and ethnicities and we take all allegations of prejudice extremely seriously.”

Leader of Barnet Labour Group Cllr Barry Rawlings said: "These tweets are absolutely appalling, and we welcome the news that Cllr Freedman has been suspended and had the whip withdrawn pending an investigation.

"We look forward to hearing the outcome of this local Conservative Party investigation, although it is difficult to see how Cllr Freedman can properly represent Muslim residents in Edgware now.  

"It is disappointing that she was selected by the Conservatives to stand as a local councillor given what she said in these tweets.

"We also support calls from the Muslim Council for an inquiry into Islamophobia in the national Conservative Party."