Three held over Facebook riot bid

Three teenagers were arrested today on suspicion of inciting rioting via Facebook.

Two 18-year-olds were arrested in Folkestone, Kent, while a 16-year-old was being questioned in Scotland after being arrested in the south side of Glasgow.

The arrests were made after Scotland Yard said a number of "inflammatory" comments had been spotted on the social networking website in relation to mass rioting in London and other cities.

The teenagers from Folkestone, a boy and a girl, were being questioned at a police station. The arrests followed concerns about postings on a social network site, understood to be Facebook, encouraging others to join in a riot.

He was arrested at Folkestone Harbour at 1.25pm while she was arrested after attending Folkestone police station.

The 16-year-old was detained at 12.40pm following an operation by Strathclyde Police.

Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, Strathclyde Police operational support, said: "This detention shows that we are monitoring the situation closely and we will take decisive action to prevent anyone inciting violence of any kind in Glasgow or anywhere else in the force area.

"Communities in London and other cities in England have been outraged at the disgraceful scenes of destruction and looting that they have witnessed and we are sure that communities here would be just as horrified to think that anyone was trying to incite similar acts of mindless criminality.

"Let there be no mistake, we are ready for any eventuality and will take any action necessary to prevent this kind of abhorrent behaviour.

"The action we took today should act as a strong warning to anyone who is thinking of causing trouble here."

PA