Pakistani police arrest Farhan Asif, a web developer, on charges of cyber terrorism for spreading misinformation that led to violent riots in the U.K., fueling anti-Muslim sentiment.
Bollywood Fever: Pakistani police have arrested a man on charges of cyber terrorism for allegedly spreading misinformation that incited widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month, a senior police investigator reported on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Farhan Asif, a freelance web developer, was taken into custody in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, according to Imran Kishwar, the deputy inspector general of investigations.
Asif is accused of disseminating false information via YouTube and Facebook regarding the British teenage suspect involved in a stabbing attack that tragically killed three girls and injured 10 others on July 29 at a dance class in Northwest England.
The misinformation falsely claimed that the suspect was a recently arrived asylum-seeker with a name suggesting the teen was Muslim. This led to a violent mob attacking a mosque near the site of the stabbing the following day.
In response, British police took the unusual step of clarifying that the suspect was born in the U.K. It was widely reported in British media that the suspect’s parents are from Rwanda and are believed to have Christian beliefs.
One of the first outlets to report the false name, Ali Al-Shakati, was Channel3 Now, an account on the X social media platform, which purports to be a news channel.
A Facebook account for the channel indicated it is managed by individuals in Pakistan and the U.S. The site’s editor-in-chief later issued an apology on July 31 for “the misleading information published in a recent article on our website, Channel3 NOW,” expressing regret for any confusion caused.
Despite the apology, the false reports continued to circulate widely and are blamed for fueling over a week of violent unrest across the United Kingdom, leading to more than 1,000 arrests. Authorities have pointed to far-right agitators as key players in stoking the violent demonstrations by perpetuating misinformation online.
At a news conference in Lahore, police revealed that Asif was arrested at his home for questioning. He reportedly claimed that he was not the original source of the misinformation but had merely reposted it from social media.
The case has now been handed over to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, which is responsible for cases related to cyber terrorism. It remains unclear if the British government has requested Asif’s extradition.
Also Read Other Articles, Napakiak Faces Third Storm in a Week After Severe Flooding Catches Residents Off Guard
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Clarifies Differences Between Kamala Harris and Her Veep Character Selina Meyer
