Police have arrested a 19-year-old man over an "offensive" tweet about the Glasgow bin lorry crash that has killed six people.
The tweet, which has since been deleted along with the account that posted it, joked about the tragedy, in which the driver lost control of the vehicle and drove on the pavement, hitting Christmas shoppers "like pinballs".
The tweet said: "So a bin lorry has apparently driven in 100 people in Glasgow eh, probably the most trash it's picked up in one day".
The arrested man, believed to be Ross Loraine, from Sunderland, handed himself in to Northumbria Police.
The force said he was arrested on suspicion of making a malicious communication and had been bailed while they investigated.
Speaking before the arrest was announced, Steve Kuncewisz, a solicitor specialising in media law, said the tweet could constitute an offence under The Communications Act.
He added some of the responses to the tweet - including insults and threats - could also be an offence under the same act.
He said: "The wisdom of the crowd is not always present in situations like this. And the wisdom of the this one guy seems to have deserted him. But whether or this would justify an arrest of prosecution, I'm not so sure."
Arrested and charged over semantics and poor taste...the modern nightmare of government has revealed itself.
ReplyDeleteSo when are the pigs going to start arresting stand up comics, the staff of Sickipedia.com and anyone attending a buck's night? Brits should start practicing their Heil Camerons' to appease the gestapo.
ReplyDeleteWe have arrived to the totalitarian state. The new USSR.
ReplyDelete