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Twitter abuse: Man arrested in Bristol | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A 32-year-old man has been arrested by police in Bristol in connection with threats made on Twitter. | A 32-year-old man has been arrested by police in Bristol in connection with threats made on Twitter. |
He is suspected of offences against two women, who reported the allegations on 25 and 29 July. | He is suspected of offences against two women, who reported the allegations on 25 and 29 July. |
The BBC understands it relates to threats made against Labour MP Stella Creasy and feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez. | |
They are among a number of prominent women recently targeted online by anonymous abusers, so-called "trolls". | |
It is the third such arrest since allegations surfaced two weeks ago. | It is the third such arrest since allegations surfaced two weeks ago. |
The man is being held under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and is due to be taken to a Bristol police station, the Metropolitan Police said. | |
Extra staff | Extra staff |
There have been calls for Twitter to do more to prevent abuse after anonymous users of the site sent messages to well-known women threatening bomb and rape attacks. | There have been calls for Twitter to do more to prevent abuse after anonymous users of the site sent messages to well-known women threatening bomb and rape attacks. |
Female journalists, columnists and the historian Mary Beard were all targeted. | |
Last weekend some users boycotted the site to protest against trolling - the practice of insulting or intimidating others, usually under a pseudonym, to provoke a reaction. | |
Twitter attracted media and police attention after campaigner Ms Criado-Perez was targeted by trolls when she successfully lobbied for a woman's face to be pictured once more on UK banknotes. | |
A 21-year-old man was arrested in Manchester on 28 July after Ms Criado-Perez reported the abuse to police, while a 25-year-old man was held by Northumbria Police on 30 July in connection with the allegations as well as those against Ms Creasy. | |
Twitter has drafted in extra staff to deal with the levels of abuse and has moved to clarify its reporting procedures. | Twitter has drafted in extra staff to deal with the levels of abuse and has moved to clarify its reporting procedures. |
Last week the company apologised to the women affected, saying what had happened was "unacceptable". |