Authorities in Pakistan have arrested a man suspected of cyber terrorism in connection to disinformation believed to have fueled unrest in the UK. Farhan Asif, reportedly linked to the website Channel3Now, is accused of spreading false information regarding the Southport attack. The website misidentified the suspected attacker as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat. This misinformation quickly gained traction on social media, contributing to widespread disorder in England and Northern Ireland following the fatal stabbing of three young girls.

Lahore police confirmed that Asif admitted to writing the article without verifying the information, which he copied from a UK-based social media account. He claimed to have operated the website on his own. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has now taken over the investigation to determine whether additional individuals were involved.

The misinformation about the Southport attacker emerged after three young girls were killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29. This sparked violent unrest, initially in Southport, before spreading across towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland, fueled by far-right and anti-immigration sentiment. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported that 494 people have been charged in connection with the riots, with over 130 already sentenced to jail.