Online misinformation fuelled tensions over the stabbing attack in Britain that killed three children


Flowers and toys are placed on the junction of Tithebarn Road and Hart Street in Southport after three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday. — AP

LONDON: Within hours of a stabbing attack in northwest England that killed three young girls and wounded several more children, a false name of a supposed suspect was circulating on social media. Hours after that, violent protesters were clashing with police outside a nearby mosque - the first of several violent protests in across England.

Police say the name was fake, as were rumours that the 17-year-old suspect was an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain. The suspect charged with murder and attempted murder was named Thursday as Axel Rudakubana, born in the UK to Rwandan parents.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Factbox-From trend to mainstay: AI to cement its place at the core of 2026 investment strategies
Data and AI firm Databricks valued at $134 billion in latest funding round
Business leaders agree AI is the future. They just wish it worked right now
Review: Defend a moving city in 'Monsters Are Coming' for PC and Xbox
Chip crunch to curb smartphone output in 2026, researcher says
App developers urge EU action on Apple fee practices
'Tomb Raider' Lara Croft to star in two new games 30 years on
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is 'slop'
US communities push back against encroaching e-commerce warehouses
Will OpenAI be the next tech giant or next Netscape?

Others Also Read