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Nurseries forced into lockdown after stabbing rumours on social media…


A number of nurseries in Wigan were forced into a lockdown this morning after a false report of a stabbing circulated on social media.

A false rumour of an alleged stabbing on Enfield Street in the Pemberton area circulated earlier today (Friday). Multiple nurseries in the area sent out alerts to parents to warn them about the alleged incident, the Liverpool Echo reports.

One nursey said it had gone into 'full lockdown' due to the 'alarming report'. A message to parents said: "There have been posts on social media this morning regarding an incident on Enfield Street.

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"As a result of the alarming reports we have made the decision to put the nursery into a full lockdown. All our children are safe and being well cared for by our fabulous staff."

But the incident turned out to be a crash on Ormskirk Road. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 7am.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident was a two car crash, and was damage only, with no injuries reported. The ECHO understands a larger than normal emergency response was sent to the scene as an iPhone detected a crash and sent an alert to emergency services.

Following the large response a false report began to circulate on social media alleging the police response was due to a stabbing and that an offender was at large. GMP confirmed the stabbing was a false report.


This week false information spread online regarding the suspect in the mass stabbings in Southport culminated in riots across the country, including on Luke's Road in Southport. Both the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Serena Kennedy, have spoken this week about the dangers of misinformation.

When Ms Cooper visited Southport the day after the mass stabbing, she urged the public to avoid 'unhelpful' speculation and added social media companies 'need to take some responsibility'.

Speaking to the ECHO on Wednesday, the day after hundreds of people attended a violent protest, CC Kennedy added: "People have attended after the vigil for the purpose of mindless violence, thuggery and hooliganism and they do not represent Southport, they do not represent Merseyside. There is a lot of misinformation and speculation out there."



https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nurseries-...125504022.html