Widespread rioting broke out by far-right mobs who capitalised on the fear and anger over the Southport knife attack. False rumours spread on social media blaming a Muslim migrant for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.
Chief Constable Haward added: “Anyone who was involved in this appalling behaviour should be aware that we have specialist officers from the Organised Crime Unit’s regional network monitoring the content and working flat out to identify you.
“Online crimes have real-world consequences, and you will be treated in the same way as those who are physically present and committing the violence.”
The police warnings came after the work of specialised authorities had already led to the arrest and prosecution of a number of social media users on charges of spreading false information and writing online content likely to incite violence.
On Friday, Tyler Kay (26) and Jordan Parlour (28) were sentenced to 38 and 20 months in prison respectively for inciting racial hatred on social media. Kay was convicted after calling on social media to set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers.
Parlour, from Seacroft, Leeds, who called on Facebook for an attack on a hotel housing refugees and asylum seekers, was the first person to be jailed for inciting racial hatred during the Troubles. He had broken his heel and was at home when he wrote the posts, which were reported to police.
