Police dispel online misinformation in murder case

Suffolk Police has dispelled misinformation circulating about the Anita Rose murder investigation

Police have quashed what they described as "dangerous" misinformation about an ongoing murder investigation.

Anita Rose, 57, from Brantham in Suffolk, was walking her dog in the village when she was attacked on 24 July before she later died in hospital.

Following the incident, an investigation was launched with two men arrested on suspicion of murder and a woman arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection to the case.

However, police said misinformation had been spread online that one of the men - and the woman - were Somali migrants, which the English Defence League (EDL) founder, Tommy Robinson, similarly claimed.

In a video posted to X, Tommy Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - claimed two Somali people had been let into Britain before they went on to kill Ms Rose.

Social media posts from other people claimed the same.

As first reported in The Times, Suffolk Police confirmed in a statement that individuals held in connection with the case were not Somali migrants.

"As previously stated in response to misinformation being circulated online, Suffolk Police can confirm that the arrested and since bailed individuals in connection with the Anita Rose case are not Somali migrants," a spokesperson for the force said.

"We typically wouldn’t comment on a nationality and the only reason we have in this instance is because it’s a dangerous piece of misinformation, which we will continue to dispel."

Rioters in Southport attacked police officers and businesses after an incident involving three children

It comes as violent riots have occurred up and down the country following an incident which saw three children killed in a knife attack in Southport.

Much of the violence has been fuelled by misinformation on social media and has seen the homes and businesses of minorities attacked.

The murder investigation into Ms Rose first saw a 45-year-old man from Ipswich previously arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

A man in his 20s from Brantham was also later arrested on suspicion of murder. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

They have all been released on bail with conditions to return to police in October.