Pakistan has charged a man named Farhan Asif with cyber terrorism because of Southport stabbing attack disinformation he spread after a recent attack in the UK.
The attack happened in Southport, and shortly after, a website called Channel3Now posted an article with incorrect details about the attacker, saying he was an asylum seeker who arrived by boat. This article was shared a lot on social media and caused unrest in England and Northern Ireland, especially after the fatal stabbing that killed three young girls.
Police in Lahore have questioned Mr. Asif about the article. He admitted to copying the information from a UK-based social media account without checking if it was true. Mr. Asif claimed he ran the website by himself.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency is now looking into the case to see if others are involved. BBC Verify found people linked to Channel3Now and spoke to someone who said the false information was an accidental error, not done on purpose.
The false info spread quickly after the attack on July 29, which was at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. This led to violence in Southport and other places across England and Northern Ireland, fueled by misinformation, far-right views, and anti-immigration sentiments.
As of the latest update, 494 people have been charged for their roles in the rioting and unrest, with over 130 already sentenced, most of them to jail.
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