An arrest has been made in Sheffield following social media posts that encouraged schoolchildren to engage in violent behavior. The individual in custody is a 13-year-old boy suspected of malicious communications, encouraging or assisting crime, and an alleged public order offense.
This incident is part of a national trend known as ‘red vs blue school wars’ that has been circulating on social media platforms. South Yorkshire Police announced an increase in patrols on Friday in response to the spread of these posts in the region.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the police force expressed concern about the «reckless attempt from mindless individuals to incite meaningless violence,» although they clarified that there were no confirmed reports of criminal offenses or injuries related to the trend at that time.
Inspector Katie Hammond mentioned that law enforcement officers have been actively monitoring social media, conducting intelligence checks, and working to identify and shut down the responsible accounts. She emphasized that the majority of children in South Yorkshire understand the irresponsible nature of this trend and its lack of reflection on the positive relationships within the community.
The national trend, which originated in London last month, involves social media posts promoting ‘red vs blue school wars’ and encouraging conflicts between students from different schools.
Read more from Sky News:
Man charged with Ian Huntley’s murder
Glasgow fire – what we know
Gamers could get compensation
The Metropolitan Police launched Operation Cedarfield to address the issue of violent school gatherings across London in response to this trend. On 1 March, the police confirmed the arrest of two individuals in Central East London in connection with the recent social media posts. The suspects, a man in his 20s and a 15-year-old boy, were taken into custody on suspicion of encouraging or assisting in a crime.