Putin is behind Southport disinformation, says ex-MP

Former security minister claims Russia fuelled far-right riots

- DAVID MADDOX

Former security minister Stephen McPartland has suggested Russia could be behind a social media disinformation campaign which led to appalling scenes in Southport on Tuesday night as protesters rioted.

It comes as sources in the Home Office told The Independent that an investigation is being carried out on the origin of social media posts which fuelled the angry disturbance in the Merseyside town. Security sources have pointed out that both China and Russia have large teams and networks working on disinformation campaigns which fuel social division and violence in the UK and other Western democracies.

The riot came after a vigil for the children who were attacked by a 17-year-old in the seaside resort. Three girls who were at a Taylor Swift holiday dance club – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine – lost their lives, while five children and two adults are still in critical condition.

The disturbance began outside a mosque, with bottles and rocks thrown and a police van set alight. But the unrest has been blamed on disinformation shared on social media suggesting that the suspect being held in custody may have been on a security watch and was Muslim.

Mr McPartland pointed the finger at Moscow and Vladimir Putin’s regime. Before the election, he carried out a review of cybersecurity and preparedness which Rishi Sunak’s government agreed to implement but left on the shelf because of the election.