Pakistani man arrested for spreading fake news leading to UK protests

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 August 2024 |  JP Staff Reporter

LAHORE—A Pakistani citizen, Farhan Asif, was arrested and placed on a one-day physical remand for allegedly spreading fake news and inciting violent protests following the tragic murder of three girls in Southport, UK.

The FIA's Cyber Crime Wing apprehended Farhan Asif on Wednesday and presented him before a judicial court, requesting a 14-day physical remand. Asif is accused of publishing false information on his website about the assailant involved in the Southport tragedy, which occurred in late July 2024, leading to violent protests in the UK.

According to the BBC, following the murder of the three teenage girls at a dance school in Southport, the website 'Channel Three Now' falsely reported that the 17-year-old attacker was a Muslim refugee who had arrived in Britain illegally by boat a year ago. This misinformation quickly went viral on social media, sparking a series of far-right riots in the UK and heightening fear and anxiety among the country's minorities, particularly the Muslim community.

During the investigation, the FIA's Cyber Crime Wing in Lahore revealed that Farhan Asif admitted to working for the website and being responsible for spreading the fake news. The FIA clarified that they did not receive any complaints from British authorities but identified Farhan through social media monitoring.

The FIR states that Farhan Asif shared images of the stabbing incident in England via an account named 'Channel Three Now' on social media platform X and published a misleading article on the website, ChannelThreeNow.com. The article falsely implicated a 17-year-old named Ali Al-Shakati in the stabbing.

DIG Organized Crime, Imran Kishwar informed journalists that Farhan is a freelancer who worked for the website.