Pakistani national arrested over Southport ‘cyber terrorism’

Authorities in Lahore, Pakistan, have detained and interrogated a web developer named Farhan Asif on suspicion of cyber terrorism related to misinformation spread following the tragic mass stabbing at a children’s Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport, Merseyside on 29 July, where three individuals lost their lives.

The horrific attack at a community dance studio was carried out by a 17-year-old British national of Rwandan descent, identified as Axel Rudakubana. However, false information started circulating online following the incident, falsely claiming that the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker who had crossed the English Channel on a small boat to reach the UK. A fake name was also fabricated and widely shared as a result.

These misleading claims were disseminated by a ‘news’ site called Channel3Now, operated by Asif on X (formerly Twitter), and were taken up by far-right extremists in the UK.

Despite later retractions, the false information led to an attack on a mosque in Southport by a violent mob, sparking racist anti-immigration riots across the UK. This was further fueled by statements from prominent right-wing figures such as Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and tech billionaire Elon Musk.

More than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riots, with many facing charges and imprisonment.

Lahore police revealed that Asif managed the Channel3Now account alone and had posted the misinformation without verifying it, basing it on content from a UK-based social media account.

Computer Weekly has learned that the case has been transferred to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Initial reports suggested that Asif was charged with cyber terrorism offenses, but the BBC reported that the FIA clarified Asif has not been charged. It remains uncertain if the UK has requested his extradition.