Southport: How did social media fuel rioters? | Debunked

Riots, fuelled by disinformation, erupted over the country overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday night after three children were tragically stabbed and killed during a dance class on Monday, July 29, 2024. A website posing as a news organisation falsely claimed the suspect was named ‘Ali Al-Shakati,’ an asylum seeker who arrived by boat last year, and claims that police have discredited. It’s a criminal offence to identify a suspect who is a minor until legal proceedings have been completed. These falsehoods, amplified by far-right groups online, sparked violent protests outside a mosque in Southport and across the country. Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: Find us on social: TikTok / @independent Instagram /