The woman accused of being first to spread the fake rumours about the Southport killer which sparked nationwide riots has been arrested.
Racist riots spread across the country after misinformation spread on social media claiming the fatal stabbing was carried out by Ali Al-Shakati, believed to be a fictitious name, a Muslim aslyum seeker who was on an MI6 watchlist.
A 55-year-old woman from Chester has now been arrested on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, and false communication. She remains in police custody.
Chief Superintendent Alison Ross said: ‘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.
That sounds like she’s repeating a rumor; she even says that it might not be true. Is this illegal in the UK?
“Ali Al-Shakati was the suspect, he was an asylum seeker who came to the UK by boat last year…” Does not read like restating a rumor
Also, she can’t provide any source where she heard that rumor, almost certainly because she just made it up herself and just threw in the “if true” bit to avoid being held responsible
She says she read it on another post and reposted it, adding in the “if this is true”. She deleted her tweet later on and said that people should’ve been doing their own fact-checking, a comment I found a bit rich considering that she didn’t fact-check before making her own post.
The UK doesn’t have the same freedom of speech as the US, no 1st ammendment. So it very well could be illegal there, Idk.
The British free speech law is that you have free speech unless the government says otherwise.
One might note that’s fucking meaningless, like they’re in a monarchy or some fascist shit like that.
You can have free speech as long as you don’t incite violence. Simple.
She should’ve checked before spreading hateful lies then, will not lose sleep over this.