This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/uk/494555-wilfried-zaha-racist-boy-arrested/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| ‘Maybe talk to his parents?’ UK police arrest 12yo boy over racist threats to football player Wilfried Zaha | ‘Maybe talk to his parents?’ UK police arrest 12yo boy over racist threats to football player Wilfried Zaha |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| West Midlands Police raised some eyebrows on social media after proudly announcing they had arrested a 12-year-old boy just hours after he sent racist threats and images of the Ku Klux Klan to footballer Wilfried Zaha. | |
| Prior to a Sunday match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Zaha tweeted out the hateful messages he received overnight. | Prior to a Sunday match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Zaha tweeted out the hateful messages he received overnight. |
| “Woke up to this today,” Zaha wrote. Screenshots of the messages included a threat to come to the athlete’s house “dressed as a ghost” if he scored in his upcoming match. Zaha also added a screenshot of the account that had sent the messages his way. | “Woke up to this today,” Zaha wrote. Screenshots of the messages included a threat to come to the athlete’s house “dressed as a ghost” if he scored in his upcoming match. Zaha also added a screenshot of the account that had sent the messages his way. |
| The extreme nature of the messages kicked off a campaign of solidarity with Zaha, and calls for immediate arrest and prosecution of the offender. | The extreme nature of the messages kicked off a campaign of solidarity with Zaha, and calls for immediate arrest and prosecution of the offender. |
| “This is abhorrent, unacceptable and criminal. There can be no room for racism of any kind in football or a civil society,” Claudia Webbe, the Labour MP for Leicester East, tweeted. | |
| Zaha also received support from the Premier League, while the manager of the Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson, praised him for making the messages public. | Zaha also received support from the Premier League, while the manager of the Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson, praised him for making the messages public. |
| "I think it is right that Wilf made people aware of it; I don't think it is something he should keep quiet about,” he said. "There is literally no excuse; there is no excuse at all." | "I think it is right that Wilf made people aware of it; I don't think it is something he should keep quiet about,” he said. "There is literally no excuse; there is no excuse at all." |
| Authorities jumped on the case in full force and, within hours, an arrest was made. | |
| “We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy,” West Midlands Police announced. | “We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy,” West Midlands Police announced. |
| The fact that police resources went into swiftly arresting a 12-year-old has, however, led some to question the priorities of West Midlands Police. | The fact that police resources went into swiftly arresting a 12-year-old has, however, led some to question the priorities of West Midlands Police. |
| “Maybe talk to his parents?” suggested Huffington Post contributor Yashar Ali. “Arresting a 12-year-old?” | “Maybe talk to his parents?” suggested Huffington Post contributor Yashar Ali. “Arresting a 12-year-old?” |
| “Imagine boasting about arresting a 12 year old,” Breitbart News investigative journalist Allum Bokhari tweeted in reaction to the arrest announcement. | “Imagine boasting about arresting a 12 year old,” Breitbart News investigative journalist Allum Bokhari tweeted in reaction to the arrest announcement. |
| While many echoed similar sentiments, questioning what effect digital messages from a teenager to a grown man could actually have, some have still argued that the incident could at least teach the boy a lesson that his family and society appear to have failed to pass on to him. | While many echoed similar sentiments, questioning what effect digital messages from a teenager to a grown man could actually have, some have still argued that the incident could at least teach the boy a lesson that his family and society appear to have failed to pass on to him. |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |