Police slam fake news on social media that dog walker was killed by Somali migrants
Anita Rose was found lying on a railway track in Brantham, Suffolk
PA/Suffolk Constabulary
Police have slammed the spread of “dangerous misinformation” online after rumours swirled that a dog walker was murdered by Somali migrants.
Anita Rose, 57 was found lying on a railway track in Brantham, Suffolk, at about 6.30am on July 24 by a member of the public.
Rose had taken her springer spaniel dog named Bruce for a walk at around 5.00am. When a passer-by stumbled across her lying on a track road near Rectory Lane, Bruce remained by her side. The dog is safe and unharmed.
The mother-of-six and grandmother-of-13 was taken to hospital where she died from serious head injuries four days later.
Anita Rose, 57, was found lying on a railway track in Brantham, SuffolkPA/Suffolk ConstabularyThree people have been arrested in connection with Rose’s death. A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder last Wednesday but he has since been bailed until October 24.
A 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 37-year-old woman who was held on suspicion of handling stolen goods, have also been released on police bail until October 25.
A post-mortem failed to find the cause of Rose's death, after which Suffolk Police said officers were continuing to investigate the case as murder.
Amid the ongoing violent riots across the UK, unfounded claims that Rose was murdered by migrants from Somalia have begun to circulate online.
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Three people have been arrested in connection with Rose’s death
Suffolk Constabulary
She was found lying unconscious on a track near a sewage works and railway line off Rectory Lane (file pic)Google MapsTommy Robinson, an anti-Islam activist, has spread the misinformation along with other factually inaccurate posts whilst he is on holiday in Cyrpus.
Speaking from a £400-a-night Mediterranean hotel, Robinson said: “The media and politicians try and blame me for what’s currently happening in our country.
“It wasn’t my policies that allowed two Somalians into the country who murdered a British grandmother last week in Ipswich,” he said in a clip which has been viewed more than two million times.
Meanwhile, an account with 387,000 followers called “Europe Invasion”, posted a photo with the grandmother with the caption: “One day she went out to walk her dog in Ipswich.
“Two Somali immigrants who followed her attacked Anita to rob her and she suffered a serious blow to her head. Anita lost her fight for life. She is no longer with us.”
Police have confirmed that the arrested individuals are not Somalian
GETTYTo set the record straight, Suffolk Police broke protocol: “In response to misinformation being circulated online, Suffolk police can confirm that the arrested and since bailed individuals in connection with the Anita Rose case are not Somali migrants.”
The force said they would not disclose the nationality of those arrested, however stated: “We typically wouldn’t comment on a nationality and the only reason we have in this instance is because it’s a dangerous piece of misinformation.”
Police said that they have identified two additional locations of interest in relation to the case and cordons have been put in place.
Police have shared a CCTV image of Rose, wearing a bright pink coat, just moments before her attack.
Officers are trying to locate the colourful jacket and her mobile phone, both of which are still missing.
Rose’s family are being supported by specially trained officers, the force said.