Online misinformation fueled tensions over the stabbing attack in Britain that killed 3 children

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Within hours of a stabbing attack in northwest England that killed three young girls and wounded several more children, a false name of a supposed suspect was circulating on social media. Hours after that, violent protesters were clashing with police outside a nearby mosque. Police say the name that was circulated was fake, as were rumors that the 17-year-old suspect was an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain. The suspect charged with murder and attempted murder was named Thursday as Axel Rudakubana, born in the U.K. to Rwandan parents. By that time,  false rumors were rife and right-wing influencers had pinned the blame on immigrants and Muslims.