On a day when terrified parents feared for their children’s safety, the Around Liverpool social pages repeatedly shared misinformation
00:01, 29 Mar 2026Updated 07:18, 29 Mar 2026
The Around Liverpool social media account has been accused of sharing dangerous misinformation
It was every parent’s greatest fear. The chilling thought that their child could be in grave danger but they were not there to keep them safe. An unknown, malevolent figure had contacted a number of schools in Merseyside and claimed to have planted bombs. Schools began to take emergency measures. One closed altogether, another implemented a temporary lockdown procedure.
The only thing was there was no real danger. It was all just a malicious hoax. While the schools, mainstream media and emergency services updated parents and the wider public about the quickly-developing story with measured, fact-checked and detailed information, others had a completely different idea.
The Around Liverpool social media page describes itself as a “weird news page showing everything happening in and around Liverpool“. The “news on this page is written by the followers”, its X account bio says.
And there are plenty of them. Around Liverpool’s X account now boasts nearly 52,000 followers, while even more people – 59,000 – follow the updates on Instagram. A further 85,000 tune in on Facebook.
On March 9, the day of the hoax threats to schools, the account was also actively updating people about the developing story. The problem was nearly everything was wrong – and the stream of unchecked misinformation was adding fuel to a fire at risk of erupting out of control.
In a matter of hours the account posted a video of the “bomb hoax person being arrested”, a voice note saying “this is not a drill” and a video of a car on fire. All were unrelated or untrue.
In another post, the account shared false information that kids from schools in the region were making plans to stab pupils from other schools. Around Liverpool added: “This could just be internet rumours” – at least that last part was true.
Police outside LIPA School in connection with the hoax emails(Image: Liverpool Echo)
But when confronted by his followers who told him of the dangers of the misinformation, the man behind the account had one rather bullish response. “Even though [I am] not perfect, I still trust the word on the street. If u (sic) don’t like it, f*** off.”
When it was pointed out that another post, likely to spread panic and fear, was completely inaccurate, he openly responded to say: “I let the followers write the news on this page and as you can see, it’s never 100% accurate.”
This week Liverpool City Council’s mayor Liam Robinson told the ECHO the account’s activity was “immoral and irresponsible”. A senior Merseyside Police detective added the “far-fetched claims created additional fear for those who were already understandably concerned”.
When confronted by the ECHO about the account’s activity, Around Liverpool said: “I am willing to cooperate with the police, council and people like yourselves to make sure what I am doing is both legal and ethical.”
This is not the first time Merseyside Police has responded to false claims spread from the Around Liverpool account.
In November last year the account claimed that cameras erected near St John’s Gardens were to “record and listen to people’s conversations”, suggesting, without evidence, that these cameras were the “first live audio, AI CCTV cameras in a public park”.
When asked for clarification by the ECHO, Merseyside Police confirmed the technology put in place around St John’s Gardens is not for the recording of anyone’s conversations.
In fact, the devices in question include a dedicated speaker system, which links to Liverpool City Council’s Citywatch team in order to deter offenders and to announce crime prevention advice to the public. They were put in place after a string of sex attacks in and around the gardens.
In his own words, the man behind the account says what started out as a “daft meme page sharing funny videos” has turned into something different.
The account has certainly become more political. A recent post explained that the man behind it has “switched from left to right” in terms of his political stance.
He has shared posts from Tommy Robinson, Elon Musk and recently reposted a comment from right-wing commentator Jess Gill which suggested the Windrush generation were never invited to the UK. He has also shared posts supporting Rupert Lowe and the far-right Restore Britain party.
After being criticised for his posts on the day of the school hoaxes by the Liverpool Against Hate X account, Around Liverpool fired back to call the person a “typical left wing s*** bag,” adding: “Hide behind a mask of virtue while being the worst people in our society. Quiet as mice in real life but attack everyone online. Woke and weak beta males.”
In recent times the account has also expressed strong support for former footballer Joey Barton, who was recently charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm following an incident at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.
But it is misinformation, such as the numerous incorrect and inflammatory posts shared on the day of the school hoaxes that is of most concern to the authorities in Liverpool.
Cllr Robinson, who has controlled Liverpool City Council since May 2023, told the ECHO: “First and foremost, it’s completely irresponsible sharing stuff that’s not accurate or true. Particularly because some of these posts genuinely will make parents of children at school really, really worried.
“So in my opinion, actually doing some of this isn’t just inappropriate, it’s immoral as well. I think from our perspective, it’s also the way that it can undermine people’s trust in official channels, be it the local schools, the local authority, Merseyside Police, the ECHO, the BBC, whoever – those kinds of official organisations that are duty-bound to actually give you the accurate information. I think it can also detract often from emergency responses.”
Leader of Liverpool City Council Liam Robinson(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Cllr Robinson added: “This is almost the worst kind of schoolyard gossip, isn’t it? Because that schoolyard rumour that would get around 200 people can quite quickly get around 200,000 people on social media.”
Detective Inspector John Black, from Merseyside Police’s digital intelligence and investigations unit, told the ECHO: “We are aware of this and of similar pages on social media, which often share misinformation and disinformation.
“Whether done maliciously or not, sharing such information on social media or WhatsApp groups can and does have real world consequences, not least in falsely increasing fear throughout our communities, and in jeopardising sensitive ongoing police investigations.
“For example, this was recently seen after hoax threats to schools across Merseyside, which is one such ongoing investigation. We have been clear from the outset that this was being treated as a hoax, with no wider risk to staff, children or the wider public.
“Appropriate communication around the matter was carried out, working closely with the schools, parents and carers affected, and providing timely updates to those who needed them.
“But despite this, misinformation and disinformation was circulated as fact, often by people with no connection to the incidents. Whatever the intention, this achieves nothing more than giving momentum to far-fetched claims, and creating additional fear for those who were already understandably concerned.”
Around Liverpool told the ECHO his aim is to “provide candid news with live updates sent in by the followers”. He added: “For me truth is always what is most important, so I allow both sides to share their side of the story.”
The page’s official account added: “The followers, as intelligent adults, can make their own mind up on truth when they see both sides so they aren’t swayed by a one sided agenda. I was only sharing already viral posts that were being shared on similar pages.
“I also leave a disclaimer telling people that it was sent in by a follower and hasn’t been confirmed yet. I also left a note on the bottom warning people that there are all sorts of crazy theories and rumours flying around and not to panic as it could be untrue.
“I always try to be as honest and transparent as possible with the followers. And news is often quickly updated and corrected as it comes in.” The account operator added: “I always try to be fair and unbiased. And if anyone ever feels anything is unfair or untrue. I will always remove the post and repost an update.”
At the time of writing all of the posts about the hoax remained on the Around Liverpool social media pages.
The account user added: “As my page is starting to grow in following, I think it’s important to make sure that everything I’m doing is all above board…I am more than willing to meet you and work closely with you.”
Following our approach this week, a post on Around Liverpool’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon suggested the man is now planning to sell his various accounts. He wrote: “It’s not worth the hassle it causes me. There are around 200k followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
“There are around 30-50 million eyes per month on them. I’ll show you the stats on request. I would want around £8k for them. Years of work building these up.”
Det Ins Black told the ECHO: “People should be aware that a social media account with a blue tick does not necessarily mean it is a reliable source of information. Think where this information has come from before you share or ask others to share content you do not know to be true.
“Merseyside Police will always be as timely as possible in our communications whenever a threat is identified. We are dedicated to serving and protecting our communities, and key to this is keeping people informed.”