24/05/2013

Woolwich Murder: Two Arrested Over 'Offensive' Twitter Comments

Two men were arrested for allegedly making offensive remarks on Twitter about the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

A 23-year-old and a 22-year-old, both from Bristol, were being held under the public order act on suspicion of inciting racial or religious hatred.

Mr Rigby, 25, of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment Fusiliers, was attacked and mordered on a street in Woolwich on Wednesday afternoon.

Detective Inspector Ed Yaxley said: "On Wednesday evening, we were contacted by people concerned about comments made on social media accounts.

"We began inquiries into the comments and at around 3.20am two men, aged 23 and 22, were detained at two addresses in Bristol.

"The men were arrested under the public order act on suspicion of inciting racial or religious hatred. Our inquiries into these comments continue.

"These comments were directed against a section of our community. Comments such as these are completely unacceptable and only cause more harm to our community in Bristol.

"People should stop and think about what they say on social media before making statements as the consequences could be serious."

The two have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

(CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 August 2012
Woman Arrested After Racist Bus Rant Video Appears Online
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of making racist comments after police examined footage that was uploaded to Youtube. The video shows a black woman shouting about her African heritage and making disparaging comments about white people.
17 February 2010
BBC Man Held For Killing Ill Lover
Police are questioning a TV presenter after he admitted killing a former lover suffering from Aids. Ray Gosling was arrested by officers from Nottinghamshire Police this morning after making the disclosure in a BBC television documentary on Monday.
22 June 2011
Galliano Faces Court Over Racism
Fashion designer John Galliano, 50, is due to appear in court today in France accused of making anti-semitic comments. In March he was fired from his position as creative director for Dior after a video surfaced of him telling a woman he "loved Hitler" and that her parents might have been gassed in a Nazi camp.
06 April 2007
'Cannabis factory' found in South Wales hotel
South Wales police have uncovered a drugs making factory in a former hotel. Police said that they had found a "sophisticated drugs making factory" following a raid at the Dragon Inn Chinese in part of the Jubilee Hotel in Tylorstown in Rhondda. More than 2,000 cannabis plants were seized during the raid on Sunday morning and six men were arrested.
02 June 2015
Eight Men Arrested Following Dawn Raids
Over 100 police officers have carried out a series of raids concerning child sexual exploitation offences in Oxford. Eight men were arrested following the raids at 6am this morning 2 June. Police are investigating approximately 60 offences in connection with the operation relating to female victims in Oxford between 1999 and 2007.