Russian-Linked Fake News Outlet Fueled Lies About Southport Stabbings, Igniting UK Riots

[Social Media]

 

The dissemination of false information about the Southport stabbings is part of Vladimir Putin's "grey warfare" strategy against the West, according to Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6. Russian state media were among the entities that wrongly identified the suspect in the Southport stabbings as an asylum seeker who arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat. This misinformation played a role in inciting violence in Hartlepool, London, and Southport, resulting in injuries to dozens of police officers in clashes with far-right protesters.

 

Sir Richard Dearlove emphasized that the spread of fake news is a core tactic used by Putin’s regime to destabilize Western nations. He explained to LBC's Nick Ferrari, "What I can tell you is that we’re in a state of grey warfare with Russia – we may not feel that we are, but they certainly think they are. The exploitation of that space is a fundamental tactic in their conflict with the West. So if these bots have been used to stir up through social media a violent response, I’m not the slightest bit surprised. People just don’t seem to understand the extent of the Russian attitude to conflict and the way every aspect of their relationship with us will be seen as a basis to attack us."

 

In March, the Kremlin initiated a disinformation campaign that falsely accused MI6 and other Western intelligence agencies of orchestrating a terror attack in Moscow. This is part of a broader strategy where, according to Sir Richard, Russia perceives itself in an existential conflict with the West. "The Russians think they’re in an existential conflict with us. That’s my view of the international situation. I think we are slightly complacent and I don’t think people necessarily understand the danger that we’re in," he noted.

 

Sir Richard admitted he had not specifically heard of Channel3Now, the fake news website responsible for spreading false information about the Southport attacker. However, he acknowledged it as part of Russia’s broader disinformation operations. "Clearly, it’s one of the sources of this activity out of Russia. I think the people running these [sites] have a pretty open instruction to exploit opportunities as they identify them. They’re not going to get clearance from Putin, but it’s part of the nature of their setup and how they operate … They’re not going to act with restraint."

 

Highlighting the personal impact of such activities, Sir Richard revealed that his own email account had been targeted by Russian hackers, despite him no longer holding an intelligence role. "You can see the extent of the effort they’re prepared to put into these activities. I can’t say I’m a strategically crucial person."

 

Addressing the role of social media in this context, Sir Richard responded to concerns about X, formerly Twitter, under Elon Musk’s ownership, suggesting that Musk's management style reflects a broader ideological split in the United States between proponents of control and advocates of absolute freedom and anarchy. This view aligns with concerns expressed by Lord Mann, the government's independent adviser on anti-Semitism, who urged Sir Keir Starmer to regulate the platform. "The way Twitter is framing its algorithms towards violent extremism requires careful but decisive action from legislators. Online harm is back on the agenda," Lord Mann wrote.

 

The fake news website with connections to Russia has been found to have played a significant role in spreading false information about the Southport stabbings, which led to a series of violent riots throughout the UK. On Monday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the killing of three young girls attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. This mass stabbing rampage also resulted in nine others being critically injured. The suspect, named Axel Rudakubana after a judge lifted reporting restrictions, was charged and brought to court.

 

In the immediate aftermath of the killings, a social media account named Channel3 Now, masquerading as an American news network, falsely claimed that the alleged murderer was an asylum seeker named Ali Al-Shakati, who was "on the MI6 watch list" and "known to mental health services." This false information was quickly amplified by Russian state media and far-right influencers Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, who claimed the suspect was an "illegal migrant" who had recently entered the country on a small boat.

 

The initial post by Channel3 News was viewed nearly two million times before it was eventually deleted. The site's 'Editor' later posted an AI-generated apology, claiming that the team responsible for the post had been "sacked." However, the damage had already been done. Merseyside Police released a statement clarifying that the name pushed by Channel3 News was "incorrect" and that the suspect was born in Cardiff. Despite this, hundreds of far-right hooligans hijacked a vigil for the victims in Southport, attacking police and chanting "English til I die" before trashing the town center and setting a police van on fire. More than 1,000 people descended on Westminster last night as the rioting intensified.

 

The misinformation spread by Channel3 News played a significant role in amplifying the far-right response. An investigation by the Mail revealed that Channel3 Now, which claims to be based in the US, actually began as a Russian YouTube channel 11 years ago. Its first video, posted in 2013, depicted Russian men rally-driving in the snow in Izhevsk, a city about 750 miles east of Moscow. The drivers in the videos were later found to have connections to Russia’s defense and IT industries, including a man who appears to be a former KGB operative who has since served in Russia’s parliament.

 

Channel3 Now lay inactive for six years before reemerging in 2019, posting a series of scattershot news pieces, including a story about a tiger being beaten to death and a match report from the Manchester City Women’s team. The organization has since rebranded itself multiple times, changing its name to aliases such as "Fox3 News" and "Fox3 Now" to mimic legitimate news organizations. Last June, it set up a website accused of sharing "racially motivated click-bait." Although Channel3 claims to be based in the US, it is registered with an online hosting company in Lithuania and uses privacy features to hide its owner’s identity.

 

The first mention of the Southport suspect’s false name was shared on Twitter by a well-known UK anti-lockdown activist, around five hours after the stabbings took place. Channel3 repeated the claim just two minutes later, and it was then picked up by Russian state broadcaster Russia Today. Although Channel3 deleted the tweet containing the false name, RT kept it on their website, adding an Editor’s Note stating, "The outlet has later retracted the claim."

 

Conservative security advisor Stephen McPartland suggested that Russia could be behind a social media misinformation campaign designed to inflame tensions in the UK. A report by McPartland, which Rishi Sunak pledged to implement but was left on the shelf following the change in government, called for a substantial review of cybersecurity and social media misinformation. He stated, "Disinformation to undermine democracy is a huge part of the Russian playbook and just in May the British government expelled a Russian defense attache and accused the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] of systemic malign cyberattacks aimed at undermining democracy."

 

"The tragic events in Southport are being mobilized by hostile states to stir up hatred and division instead of letting the community grieve. We need much more cyber-resilience throughout our whole society and economy to defend democracy."

 

Credit: Metro  2024-08-03

 

 

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[it is what it is]

 

don't blame the messenger, blame the blinkered idiots that revel in believing such divisive, bigoted nonsense.

 

thankfully the police are catching up with an increasing number of these idiots and hauling  them up in front of the courts. personally, i hope they throw away the key.

[Stargeezr]

We all know that Russia has no morals, the world should quit dealing with this country. IMO

[Theforgotten1]

The police caused the riots , the people were protesting about 3 children being killed and 9 other suffering stab wounds , the police were out in riot gear straight away and antagonizing the already upset public , when the Muslims or the pro Palestinian lot protest the police hide . This fake journalist is trying to blame the British public for the governments lack of concern for the British 

[Chomper Higgot]

17 minutes ago, Theforgotten1 said:

The police caused the riots , the people were protesting about 3 children being killed and 9 other suffering stab wounds , the police were out in riot gear straight away and antagonizing the already upset public , when the Muslims or the pro Palestinian lot protest the police hide . This fake journalist is trying to blame the British public for the governments lack of concern for the British 

The rioters caused the riots.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

 

[Theforgotten1]

The police went in there heavy handed , arrested people for standing there ( can be seen on YouTube) hitting people with there batons and pushing the people , this is the 2 tier policing. The next stage is the bs reporting , as seen here

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Russian state media were among the entities that wrongly identified the suspect in the Southport stabbings as an asylum seeker who arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat. This misinformation played a role in inciting violence in Hartlepool, London, and Southport, resulting in injuries to dozens of police officers in clashes with far-right protesters.

 

To incite hatred against immigrants is a tool to destabilize a country .

Today's wars are fought on many fronts ...

[rickudon]

Just a load of thugs. Bald heads, overweight and beefed up on steroids. The SA (Hitler's brown shirts) would have loved them.

[Roo Island]

Social media. The bain of modern times. Sad so many fall for the misinformation

[john donson]

hahaha, blame it on putin, good one

 

not their own failed policies over the decades

[Gweiloman]

Looks like this channel3 copied the New York Post where the latter published an article identifying the Trump shooter as Chinese.

[ericbj]

The pot calling the kettle black !

 

We've heard this establishment geezer before, proning his black propaganda in interviews on YouTube.

 

MI6 was formerly an intelligence-gathering service (under the aegis of the Foreign Office) whose purpose is to keep the relevant authorities informed on matters concerning the potential security of the nation.

 

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO (and with it MI6) has been concerned to re-engineer an external threat - or, better still, threats - to justify its, and its appendages, continued existence.  In the furtherance of major financial interests (already alluded to by Eisenhower in his broadcast speech when stepping down as President).

 

MI6 was telling us within a couple of months after the Russian incursion, that the Russian armed forces were running out of munitions, that the Russian troops were demoralised and on the point of cracking, etc.

 

They call this "intelligence"?  I call it black propaganda.

 

To distinguish so-called 'black propaganda' from the 'white' variety:  it is a means of deceiving an enemy with falsehoods.

 

Who was, and is, the enemy?
The Russians?
- No! Members of the general public in the West.  The truth must be kept from them.
(Although the veil of falsehood is finally beginning to wear a bit thin)