Police Scotland have warned the public not to share misinformation about an incident in Dundee involving a 12-year-old girl, after online speculation was amplified by Elon Musk and far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The girl was charged with possession of offensive weapons after a Bulgarian couple were approached by young people in St Ann Lane on Saturday evening. Alleged footage of the incident was widely shared on social media, with unsubstantiated claims that the couple were migrants who had harassed the children.
Musk retweeted the allegations, posting: “What kind of government arrests little girls who try to defend themselves?” Tommy Robinson also shared the video, writing: “Very distressed young girls being filmed by a migrant.”
Police reviewed CCTV footage and found no evidence to support the allegations. Chief Superintendent Nicola Russell said: “We are aware of misinformation being shared… we would urge the public not to share misinformation or speculate on the circumstances.”
First Minister John Swinney accused Musk of undermining community cohesion with “deliberate misinformation”. The girl, under 16, will be dealt with through Scotland’s children’s hearing system.
A crowdfunder appeal set up by her family has raised £30,000, repeating claims that the girl’s sister was attacked and that the law is targeting victims rather than “foreign migrants”.
