Pakistan police have apprehended a man suspected of cyber terrorism in connection with disinformation that may have exacerbated unrest in the UK, Farhan Asif.
According to BBC, a senior police investigator said Wednesday.
Asif is allegedly linked to the website Channel3Now, which published misleading information about the Southport attacker shortly after the incident.
The false article, which appeared on Channel3Now, misidentified the suspect and falsely labeled him as an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK via a small boat.
This misleading report rapidly spread through social media, contributing to the subsequent unrest in England and Northern Ireland.
The fatal stabbing attack, which occurred on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, resulted in the deaths of three young girls.
In the wake of this tragedy, violent disturbances erupted in Southport and quickly spread to various towns and cities across England and Northern Ireland.
The unrest was fueled by misinformation, as well as far-right and anti-immigration rhetoric.
On Tuesday, Lahore police reported that they had interrogated Asif regarding the article.
According to a police officer who spoke with the BBC, Asif admitted that he had published the article based on unverified information from a UK-based social media account. Asif claimed sole responsibility for running the website.
The case has since been taken up by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, which is investigating whether others were involved in the dissemination of the false information.
Several individuals associated with Channel3Now previously identified have been questioned on the incident.
One of these individuals, who identified themselves as part of the site’s management, admitted that the publication of the incorrect information was an “error, not intentional.”
As of the latest update from the Crown Prosecution Service on Tuesday, 494 individuals have been charged in connection with the recent riots and unrest, with over 130 already sentenced, the majority receiving jail time.
