Two men in the UK have been sentenced to more than two years in prison each for posting what authorities deemed “racist messages” on social media. Cheshire Police Tuesday.
Authorities said Christopher Taggart, 36, of Caesars Close, Runcorn, and Reece McDonald, 34, of Oxford Road, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday.
“This should be a stern warning against posting abusive messages online. We are all responsible for our actions, including what we post on social media.”
Taggart was sentenced to 32 months in prison (four months shy of three years) and McDonald was sentenced to 28 months, and both pleaded guilty to “publishing literature inciting racial hatred,” authorities said. Taggart also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a private place, authorities said.
Cheshire Police became aware of “concerning public messaging on Facebook” posted by Taggart and McDonald on August 5, officials said, adding that several posts contained “racist language” and encouraged people to “engage in racial hatred”.
Authorities said Taggart posted the messages from July 29 to Aug. 6, and McDonald posted the messages from July 29 to Aug. 5, and both were arrested Saturday. Authorities added that investigators also found metal knuckles at Taggart’s home during the search.
July 29th was the date of the deadly mass stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance class in Southport. A 17-year-old man is accused of killing three people and injuring numerous victims in the attack.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of 9-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar after her funeral at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport on Aug. 11, 2024. Alice, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancomb were killed and 10 others injured in a knife attack on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party.Photo by ANNABEL LEE-ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Authorities initially said there was no evidence that the deadly knife attack was motivated by terrorism, which angered many who accused the government of hiding evidence. Identified Prosecutors arrested suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Authorities confirmed that the suspect is from Cardiff, but noted that both of his parents are Rwandan.
Unrest and violence erupted in the days following the stabbing, spreading across Britain. Prime Minister Keir Starmer Condemned He blamed the violence on “far-right thugs.”
Protesters march in London against an anti-immigration protest on August 7, 2024. Nighttime riots broke out after the murder of three children in Southport on July 29.Photo by Benjamin Kremer/AFP via Getty Images
But Ricky Jones, a now-suspended British Labour Party councillor, was reportedly arrested last week on suspicion of encouraging the murder of anti-immigration protesters after shouting at a crowd of fanatical far-left protesters during an outdoor speech in London, “They are disgusting, vile fascists and we need to behead them all and get rid of them!” video Part of the speech shows him running his fingers down his neck as he speaks, and chanting, “Free Palestine!”
Radio host Glenn BeckLast week, Blaze Media co-founder John F. Kennedy said the deadly knife attack revealed a “dual justice” in Britain, with police more or less ignoring crimes committed by Muslim immigrants while harshly punishing non-Muslims.
Also last week, Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that if people post material online about riots in England that authorities claim incites racial hatred, “we will pursue them” even if they live abroad.
Indeed, British police last week arrested a 55-year-old woman in connection with “inaccurate social media posts about the identity of the Southport murder suspect,” Cheshire Police announced. said In a separate report.
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales said“We have officers dedicated to combing through social media. Their job is to find this material and proceed with identification, arrests, etc.”
Speaking about the pair who were jailed, Detective Superintendent Alison Ross said: “Since the recent outbreak of unrest in other parts of the UK, we have been clear that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in Cheshire, including those posting racist slurs online. Much of the violent unrest across the UK in recent weeks has been sparked by malicious communication online, and Taggart and McDonald decided to weigh in. But they can no longer hide behind their devices or online accounts and are quickly being identified and held accountable. This should be a stern warning to everyone not to post abusive messages online. We are all responsible for our actions, including what we post on social media.”
Anything else?
A 32-year-old Romanian man of no fixed address was charged with attempted murder last week after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed multiple times in London’s Leicester Square. The girl survived but required plastic surgery. Authorities said the attack was not terror-related.
Austrian authorities say they have thwarted a terror plot at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, but three men were arrested last week in connection with the incident which they believe was instigated by radical Islam.
Swift will perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium starting Thursday through Aug. 20, concluding the European leg of her Eras tour.
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