Pakistani authorities have charged a man with cyber terrorism in connection with disinformation believed to have contributed to unrest in the UK. According to police, Farhan Asif was linked to a website that falsely identified the suspected Southport attacker and claimed he was an asylum seeker who had entered the UK by boat.
The misleading article, published on Channel3Now shortly after the attack, quickly spread across social media. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls, led to unrest in both England and Northern Ireland. On Tuesday, Lahore police confirmed they had questioned Mr. Asif regarding the article.
Mr. Asif admitted to copying the information from a UK-based social media account without verifying it, a police officer told the BBC. He stated that he operated the website independently. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency is now investigating the case to determine if others were involved.
BBC Verify had previously identified several individuals linked to Channel3Now and interviewed someone claiming to be part of the site’s management. This person acknowledged the false name publication, calling it an unintentional error.
False information about the attacker circulated online following the fatal stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29. This misinformation, along with far-right and anti-immigration rhetoric, sparked violent disturbances in Southport, which later spread to other towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland.
As of Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported that 494 individuals have been charged in connection with the riots and unrest, with over 130 already sentenced to prison.
