How specialist police are targeting ‘hate influencers’ fuelling riots on social media [Video]

04:15 EDT 11 Aug 2024, updated 05:18 EDT 11 Aug 2024

Specialist police teams are trawling through social media posts to target ‘hate influencers’ who incited the far-right riots seen on British streets.

Regional organised crime units are working with the specialist officers to investigate hundreds of posts suspected of ‘spreading hate and inciting violence’.

Far-right mobs across the UK carried out a series of riots in the wake of the Southport knife attack after false rumours were spread on social media blaming a Muslim migrant for the attack.

A range of social media sites are being reviewed by officers from the serious and organised crime team, counter-terror police and other national agencies.

Officers would work together to build a ‘clear intelligence picture’ of those believed to be organising and influencing violence both online and in the real world, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said.

Offenders will then be identified, arrested and charged after content is assessed by a senior investigator …