Apology for online ‘stabbing’ warning

Information circulated by a council leader on social media that a person was stabbed in Loughborough on Wednesday night has proved to be false.

Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, Councillor Jewel Miah said in a post on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, that there had been “unconfirmed reports of a stabbing/ murder” in Wharncliffe Road.

However, Leicestershire Police said that it was called to a report of a man being taken ill in Empress Road, Loughborough.

A spokesman for the force said the ambulance service attended the scene and the man was taken to hospital.

Officers in Charnwood said the man had suffered a “medical episode” and that no persons had been assaulted.

Coun Miah has since deleted the posts, in which he said he had been in contact with the police and had “spoken to officers at the scene.”

In a post later on Friday morning, he apologised for the confusion.

He said: “I hold my hands up everyone. I got it wrong. The information I was given was incorrect.

“However I felt it necessary to warn and inform people. I have deleted the original post. If people have a go at me for it, fair enough, that’s entirely up to them.”

In response, users took to Facebook to question why Mr Miah had posted the incorrect information.

One said: “I really think you shouldn’t have put the original post up before knowing all the facts. You could have potentially worried people who live in that area unnecessarily.”

But another said: “I would rather have been aware of the rumours circulating and took preventative measures!”