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.
Scotland’s first minister has also accused the multibillionaire X owner of undermining community cohesion.
A 12-year-old girl was charged with being in possession of offensive weapons after an incident in which a Bulgarian couple were approached by young people in St Ann Lane, Dundee, on Saturday evening.
Alleged footage of the incident was circulated widely on social media, including images of a girl holding up bladed weapons. There were claims that she and her friends had been harassed and followed by individuals, who were described without evidence as migrants.
Musk retweeted some of these allegations on X and posted: “What kind of government arrests little girls who try to defend themselves?”
The allegations were also reposted by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He wrote: “Very concerning video out of Dundee, Scotland. Very distressed young girls being filmed by a migrant, the children can be heard saying they’re only 12, and to leave them alone.”
Police in Dundee have confirmed that after reviewing CCTV footage they had found no evidence for the allegations circulating on social media.
Speaking in Glasgow on Thursday, Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, said there was a limit to what he could say about the “deliberate misinformation” to avoid prejudicing the case.
But he added: “People like Elon Musk, with the misinformation that has been stoked up about this case, are trying to undermine that sense of cohesion within our communities and it is totally and utterly unacceptable, and Police Scotland are absolutely right to call it out.”
Ch Supt Nicola Russell said: “We are aware of misinformation being shared on social media in relation to an incident where a Bulgarian couple were approached by youths in St Ann Lane, Dundee, on Saturday.
“A 12-year-old girl has been charged with being in possession of offensive weapons. She will be referred to the relevant authorities and our enquiries are ongoing.”
As the girl is under 16 her case will be heard through Scotland’s children’s hearing system, which takes a less formal approach than court.
Russell said: “We would like to thank the local community for their help with our investigation and would urge the public not to share misinformation about this incident or speculate on the circumstances.”
The girl has been declared a hero on social media, with cartoons depicting her as Braveheart and a crowdfunder appeal generating £30,000 in donations.
The appeal, which was apparently set up by her family, repeats allegations that the 12-year-old’s sister was physically attacked during the incident and says the girl “needs our help to stand up to the corrupt law establishment that would rather go after victims than hold foreign migrants accountable for their crimes”.
