Chester woman arrested for spreading fake info about Southport suspect
4 Min Read
Police are beginning to arrest and prosecute those in England who make the effort to spread misinformation about the Southport stabbing suspect.
-
Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall during a vigil to remember the victims in Southport, England, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 (AP)
A 55-year-old unnamed woman was arrested over a social media post that misrepresented the identity of the suspect in the Southport stabbing.
The woman, who lives close to Chester, was taken into custody on Thursday on charges of disseminating written content meant to incite racial hatred and deceitful communications.
Chief Superintendent Alison Ross stated, “We have all seen the violent disorder that has taken place across the UK over the past week, much of which has been fuelled by malicious and inaccurate communications online."
She added, “It’s a stark reminder of the dangers of posting information on social media platforms without checking the accuracy. It also acts as a warning that we are all accountable for our actions, whether that be online or in person.”
Police all around the United Kingdom have released alerts regarding the online propagation of a fake narrative about the 17-year-old Southport suspect, Axel Rudakubana, and his "incorrect" name.
Read next: 3 Sunderland police injured in far-right attacks, 8 rioters arrested
Sunder Katwala, the director of the research tank British Future, called attention to several well-known internet personalities who were "sharing that false information" on X, such as Laurence Fox and former kickboxer Andrew Tate.
Authorities have charged Tommy Robinson, the founder of the EDL (English Defense League), with inciting unrest.
Many analysts claimed that following violent disruption in the days following the attack, a "vocal minority" had used this false information to sow discord, "fuel their own agenda and trigger a summer of thrill-seeking impulsive insurrection."
According to Merseyside police, a 39-year-old man from Lancashire was taken into custody on Thursday night on suspicion of using social media to incite others to engage in violent disturbance.
The man from Rufford, Ormskirk, was detained on suspicion of aiding or inciting the commission of an indictable crime, as police believe one or more crimes would be committed. On July 30, he was also taken into custody in Southport on accusations of committing violent disorder himself.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said, “This arrest demonstrates our aim is not only to bring to justice those people who chose to engage in violence and destruction to Southport and elsewhere... We are also determined to arrest anyone we suspect tried to stir up hate online, and actively encouraged others to take the streets to cause violence and physical harm in our communities.”
EDL provoked the riots
Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets in various English cities on Wednesday following days of far-right violence that have put UK police on high alert. Still, counter-protesters against racism and fascism turned out in larger numbers on Wednesday, staging protests in cities like London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
To handle the roughly 100 advertised protests by far-right groups and counter-protesters, the government had placed 6,000 specialized police officers on standby. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked "all the police officers working tonight to protect & support local communities" over social media.
In an effort to prevent further unrest, courts have begun to impose jail sentences on offenders connected to the riots.
A man who entered a guilty plea to charges of violent disorder and attacking a police officer in Southport was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday. Two additional men in Liverpool were given terms of 20 months and 30 months.
Clashes between the demonstrators and the police were incited by members of an anti-Muslim xenophobic fascist group known as the EDL who provoked protesters by attacking a local mosque with projectiles.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the violent riots as "thuggery", pledging that the assailants will face "the full force of the law."
Following Tuesday's violent situation, the Merseyside Police released a statement claiming they had "intelligence about other events taking place potentially this evening and the weekend." Additionally, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said Southport's police "are planning" for potential incidents, asserting her confidence in Merseyside's sufficient sources.
The violent protests initially began last Tuesday in Southport after extremist far-right social media users falsely reported that the assailant in last week's knife attack that killed three young girls and wounded multiple children at dance class was a Muslim immigrant.
