A taxi driver incited riots in Southport by urging locals to rise up online
Southport: A taxi driver from Lancashire stirred up chaos in Southport by creating a social media account that called on locals to “rise up.” This led to riots last summer, and he’s now facing serious consequences.
Andrew McIntyre, 39, got a hefty seven-and-a-half-year sentence after admitting to encouraging violent disorder. The court heard he set up a Telegram channel named “Southport Wake Up” after a tragic incident where three girls were stabbed at a dance class.
During the trial, the judge pointed out that McIntyre was driven by racial hatred and played a major role in the unrest. His posts were seen as a direct call to action, rallying people to commit acts of violence and vandalism.
He even shared a map of a mosque and made threats against the police, saying they should “prepare to fall” if they got in the way. It’s pretty wild how one person’s words can lead to so much trouble.
After the riots, he boasted about the chaos online, showing no remorse. When police caught up with him, they found a knife in his car and other weapons at his home, along with a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf. Not exactly the best reading material.
McIntyre’s actions were linked to a wave of violence that erupted after the stabbing incident, fueled by rumors that the attacker was an asylum seeker. The whole situation escalated quickly, leading to serious charges against the alleged attacker as well.
