Pakistani man charged with cyberterrorism for misinfo that led to UK riots
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor), Lea Mercado (Senior Digital Producer)
Farhan Asif, a 32-year-old freelance web developer, has been charged with cyberterrorism after allegedly spreading false information online about a deadly stabbing in the United Kingdom. Asif was arrested during the week of Aug. 18, at his home in Lahore, Pakistan, by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
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Pakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on The HinduMan arrested in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on The IndependentPakistani Man Charged With Cyber Terrorism For False Posts Linked To UK Riots
Click to see story on NDTVPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsMajor Southport attack riots update as Pakistan journalist charged with cyber terrorism
Click to see story on Daily MirrorPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on abc NewsPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Coast ReporterPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookPakistani man faces cyber-terror charge over false posts linked to UK riots
Click to see story on Al JazeeraFIA files cyberterrorism case against suspect for allegedly sharing misinformation inciting UK riots
Click to see story on DawnPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Barrie TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenMan charged in Pakistan with cyber terrorism over Southport misinformation
Click to see story on The NationalMan charged in Pakistan over Southport disinformation that fuelled riots
Click to see story on iNewsPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Bowen Island UndercurrentPakistani police charge man over Southport attack disinformation
Click to see story on BBC NewsPakistan police charge man with cyberterrorism over misinformation that led to riots in U.K.
Click to see story on CTV NewsPakistan charges man with cyberterrorism over misinformation that led to UK riots
Click to see story on South China Morning PostPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressMan charged over Southport stabbings attack misinformation that led to disorder
Click to see story on Liverpool EchoMan charged in Pakistan for allegedly spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on NewsweekPolice arrest man in Pakistan accused of spreading misinformation before UK riots
Click to see story on Sky News UKPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsPakistan Authorities Charge Man With Cyber Terrorism Over Misinformation That Sparked Riots in UK
Click to see story on The DiplomatPakistani web developer charged over fake details spread about Southport accused
Click to see story on Evening StandardArrest in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on The West AustralianMan arrested in Pakistan after website accused of fuelling race riots in UK
Click to see story on ITVMan arrested in Pakistan for ‘spreading false information’ about Southport attack suspect
Click to see story on LBCPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunMan charged in Pakistan over spread of false Southport knifeman claim
Click to see story on The TimesRight
Untracked Bias
Pakistani web developer charged over fake details spread about Southport accused
Click to see story on Shropshire StarArrest in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on PerthNowPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Airdrie City ViewPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Orillia MattersPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Newmarket TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Midland TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Collingwood TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Thorold TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Elora Fergus TodayPolice in Pakistan have charged a man with spreading misinformation in connection with the Southport attack
Click to see story on aktuality.skPakistan man faces cyber terror charge over false posts linked to UK riots
Click to see story on Business RecorderPolice in Pakistan charge man with cyber terrorism over Southport misinformation
Click to see story on Nation.CymruPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Moose Jaw TodayPakistan charges man over misinformation linked to UK riots
Click to see story on The New ArabPakistani man accused of producing disinformation that led to street riots in England
Click to see story on MediafaxPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Bradford TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Timmins TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on thealbertan.comPakistan man faces cyber terror charge over UK riots
Click to see story on rthk.hkPakistani man charged with cyber terrorism for disinformation that fuelled UK unrest – Greater Kashmir
Click to see story on Greater KashmirPolice in Pakistan charge a man with cyberterrorism, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the identity of the attacker in the Southport stabbing
Click to see story on mediagazer.comAccording to a police report seen by various news outlets, Asif operated the website Channel3Now, where he allegedly posted false details about the suspect involved in a fatal stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, on July 29. The incident resulted in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to eight other children and two adults.
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Asif’s post falsely claimed that the suspect was a radical Islamic asylum-seeker who had entered the U.K. illegally in 2023. This misinformation led to widespread riots in the U.K., with rioters attacking hotels housing asylum-seekers and a mosque near the stabbing site.
The riots resulted in injuries to dozens of police officers, over 1,000 arrests, and nearly 500 charges, with more than 150 individuals sentenced to jail time.
Counterprotests also emerged, with thousands taking to the streets to support immigrants, holding signs reading “Racists Out, Refugees In” and chanting “Love, Not Hate.”
The actual suspect was later identified as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Cardiff, Wales, born in the U.K. to Rwandan parents. A judge allowed his name to be released to help stop the spread of misinformation.
The motive for the stabbing remains unclear.
Police recovered two laptops and a mobile phone from Asif’s home, where they found the X account of Channel3Now active. Asif reportedly confessed during interrogation but claimed he was not the source of the false information, stating he received it from a U.K.-based social media account. The website has since been taken offline, and there has been no activity on the X account since Aug. 11.
A Pakistani court has granted authorities an additional four days to question Asif. Pakistani police stated that Asif’s actions “created a sense of fear” in Britain and damaged Pakistan’s reputation.
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Before his arrest, Asif was confronted by ITV about his role in fueling the riots. He responded, “I don’t know how such a small article or a minor Twitter account could cause widespread confusion.”
THIS IS THE MAN POLICE SAY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SPREADING MISINFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT A DEADLY STABBING THAT LED TO MASSIVE RIOTS ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AUTHORITIES FINDING THEIR SUSPECT NOT IN BRITAIN – BUT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY – IN PAKISTAN.
32-YEAR-OLD FARHAN (FAR-HAHN) ASIF (AH-SIF) IS CHARGED WITH CYBER TERRORISM -AFTER BEING ARRESTED THIS WEEK IN HIS HOME IN THE EASTERN CITY OF LAHORE.
ACCORDING TO A POLICE REPORT BY PAKISTAN’S FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY, SEEN BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS, ASIF – A FREELANCE WEB DEVELOPER – RAN THE WEBSITE CHANNEL3NOW – WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY SPREAD FALSE DETAILS ABOUT THE SUSPECT IN A FATAL STABBING AT A TAYLOR SWIFT-THEMED DANCE CLASS IN THE NORTHWEST ENGLAND TOWN OF SOUTHPORT ON JULY 29TH.
THREE GIRLS, AGES 6, 7 AND 9, WERE KILLED IN THE INCIDENT AND EIGHT OTHER CHILDREN AND TWO ADULTS WERE INJURED.
[ANCHOR]
LAUREN TAYLOR:
POLICE SAY ASIF POSTED A STORY TO HIS WEBSITE CLAIMING THE SUSPECT WAS A RADICAL ISLAMIC ASYLUM-SEEKER WHO ENTERED THE UK ILLEGALLY ON A SMALL BOAT IN 2023 – EVEN IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT BY NAME.
BUT WHILE ALL THOSE SUPPOSED DETAILS TURNED OUT TO BE LIES – POLICE SAY THAT DIDN’T STOP THE MISINFORMATION FROM SPREADING IN THE UK – RESULTING IN RIOTERS ATTACKING HOTELS THAT HOUSE ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND THROWING BRICKS AT A MOSQUE NEAR THE STABBING SITE. THE RIOTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE – CHANTING “WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK.”
DOZENS OF POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED RESPONDING TO THE RIOTS –
MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE ARRESTED.
NEARLY 500 CHARGED
MORE THAN 150 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN SENTENCED – WITH MOST FACING JAIL TIME.
THE RIOTS SPURRED COUNTER-PROTESTS – WITH THOUSANDS TAKING THE STREETS TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THE UK – HOLDING UP SIGNS READING “RACISTS OUT, REFUGEES IN” AND CHANTING “LOVE, NOT HATE.”
IN REALITY – THE SUSPECT TURNED OUT TO BE A 17-YEAR-OLD FROM CARDIFF, WALES NAMED AXEL RUDAKUBANA (RUE-DUH-COO-BAH-NUH). A JUDGE ALLOWING HIS NAME TO BE RELEASED DESPITE HIS AGE IN PART TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE MISINFORMATION.
POLICE SAY THE TEEN WAS BORN IN THE U-K TO RWANDAN PARENTS AND LIVED IN A VILLAGE NEAR SOUTHPORT. THE MOTIVE OF THE STABBING IS STILL UNCLEAR.
POLICE SAY THEY RECOVERED TWO LAPTOPS AND A MOBILE PHONE FROM ASIF’S HOME – WHERE THEY FOUND THE X ACCOUNT OF CHANNEL3NOW ACTIVE.
ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT – ASIF “CONFESSED HIS GUILT” DURING INTERROGATION – BUT TOLD AUTHORITIES HE WAS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE FALSE INFO – SAYING HE GOT IT FROM A UK-BASED SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.
ASIF’S SITE HAS BEEN TAKEN OFFLINE, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTIVITY ON THE X ACCOUNT SINCE AUGUST 11TH.
ON THURSDAY – A PAKISTANI COURT ALLOWED AUTHORITIES TO QUESTION ASIF FOR FOUR MORE DAYS.
PAKISTANI POLICE SAY ASIF’S ACTIONS “CREATED A SENSE OF FEAR” IN BRITAIN AND DAMAGED PAKISTAN’S REPUTATION.
LAST WEEK, BEFORE HIS ARREST, BRITAIN BROADCASTER ITV CONFRONTED ASIF ABOUT THE ROLE HIS REPORT PLAYED IN FUELING THE RIOTS, HE REPLIED QUOTE: “I DON’T KNOW HOW SUCH A SMALL ARTICLE OR A MINOR TWITTER ACCOUNT COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD CONFUSION.”
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Pakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on The HinduMan arrested in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on The IndependentPakistani Man Charged With Cyber Terrorism For False Posts Linked To UK Riots
Click to see story on NDTVPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsMajor Southport attack riots update as Pakistan journalist charged with cyber terrorism
Click to see story on Daily MirrorPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on abc NewsPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Coast ReporterPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookPakistani man faces cyber-terror charge over false posts linked to UK riots
Click to see story on Al JazeeraFIA files cyberterrorism case against suspect for allegedly sharing misinformation inciting UK riots
Click to see story on DawnPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Barrie TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenMan charged in Pakistan with cyber terrorism over Southport misinformation
Click to see story on The NationalMan charged in Pakistan over Southport disinformation that fuelled riots
Click to see story on iNewsPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Bowen Island UndercurrentPakistani police charge man over Southport attack disinformation
Click to see story on BBC NewsPakistan police charge man with cyberterrorism over misinformation that led to riots in U.K.
Click to see story on CTV NewsPakistan charges man with cyberterrorism over misinformation that led to UK riots
Click to see story on South China Morning PostPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressMan charged over Southport stabbings attack misinformation that led to disorder
Click to see story on Liverpool EchoMan charged in Pakistan for allegedly spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on NewsweekPolice arrest man in Pakistan accused of spreading misinformation before UK riots
Click to see story on Sky News UKPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsPakistan Authorities Charge Man With Cyber Terrorism Over Misinformation That Sparked Riots in UK
Click to see story on The DiplomatPakistani web developer charged over fake details spread about Southport accused
Click to see story on Evening StandardArrest in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on The West AustralianMan arrested in Pakistan after website accused of fuelling race riots in UK
Click to see story on ITVMan arrested in Pakistan for ‘spreading false information’ about Southport attack suspect
Click to see story on LBCPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunMan charged in Pakistan over spread of false Southport knifeman claim
Click to see story on The TimesRight
Untracked Bias
Pakistani web developer charged over fake details spread about Southport accused
Click to see story on Shropshire StarArrest in Pakistan for spreading UK riot misinformation
Click to see story on PerthNowPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Airdrie City ViewPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Orillia MattersPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Newmarket TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Midland TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Collingwood TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Thorold TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Elora Fergus TodayPolice in Pakistan have charged a man with spreading misinformation in connection with the Southport attack
Click to see story on aktuality.skPakistan man faces cyber terror charge over false posts linked to UK riots
Click to see story on Business RecorderPolice in Pakistan charge man with cyber terrorism over Southport misinformation
Click to see story on Nation.CymruPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Moose Jaw TodayPakistan charges man over misinformation linked to UK riots
Click to see story on The New ArabPakistani man accused of producing disinformation that led to street riots in England
Click to see story on MediafaxPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Bradford TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on Timmins TodayPakistan police charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that led to riots in UK
Click to see story on thealbertan.comPakistan man faces cyber terror charge over UK riots
Click to see story on rthk.hkPakistani man charged with cyber terrorism for disinformation that fuelled UK unrest – Greater Kashmir
Click to see story on Greater KashmirPolice in Pakistan charge a man with cyberterrorism, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the identity of the attacker in the Southport stabbing
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