Woman held over social media post after Southport killings

Cheshire Police arrest a 55-year-old woman after officers say inaccurate information was shared on social media

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred on social media in the wake of the Southport knife attack.

The 55-year-old, from near Chester, was held earlier over a post which was published online containing inaccurate information about the identity of the suspect accused of the killings of three young girls in Southport, Cheshire Police said.

She is being questioned in police custody.

Chief Supt Alison Ross issued a "stark reminder" of the dangers of posting unchecked information.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were stabbed to death in Southport after an attacker entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop, with 10 others seriously injured.

Police later warned that a name being circulated on social media that was said to be the suspect was inaccurate.

The woman has been arrested on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and false communications, Cheshire Police confirmed.

There have been widespread riots across the country since the Southport knife attack, which has been blamed on misinformation shared online.

Ms 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.

"It’s a stark reminder of the dangers of posting information on social media platforms without checking the accuracy."

She added that "we are all accountable for our actions, whether that be online or in person".