Three extra ‘armchair thugs’ are charged over riots

More alleged ‘armchair thugs’ have been charged over the riots and are due in court accused of stirring up racial hatred on social media. 

Geraint Boyce, 43, and Jamie Michael, 45, are accused of publishing threatening material on a Facebook account. 

The CPS said the charges relate to Facebook posts on or around July 31 in relation to the widespread public disorder which has seen violence and chaos erupt across the UK. 

Boyce, of Penrhiw-Fer, and Michael, of Penygraig, are due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, James Aspin, 34, is accused of stirring up racial hatred on social media platform TikTok

Aspin is the first person to be charged with using the video app to promote violence.  

Violent riots have exploded across several cities in recent days 

The CPS said the charge relates to an alleged video published on TikTok on or before August 8. 

Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, is due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Violent riots have exploded across several cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Plymouth and Birmingham following the Southport knife rampage which claimed the lives of three young girls and left many others injured.

False speculation online that the teenage suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK on a boat has fuelled the unrest which started outside a mosque in Southport and has since spread nationwide. 

The misinformation is believed to have originated from a Russian-linked fake news website.

Right-wing groups have organised dozens of protests from Liverpool to Hull and Middlesbrough to Plymouth – with many filled with anti-immigrant rhetoric. 

Riots have seen hotels housing migrants set on fire and police attacked with bricks or glass bottles.