Lee Rigby murder: Man charged over FB comments

A 22-YEAR-old man was last night charged on suspicion of making malicious comments on Facebook following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby.

Benjamin Flatters, of Lincoln, was arrested on Thursday night after complaints were made to Lincolnshire Police about comments made on Facebook, which were allegedly of a racist or anti-religious nature.

He was charged with an offence of malicious communications yesterday afternoon in relation to the comments, a police spokesman said. A second man was visited by officers and warned about his activity on social media, the spokesman added.

Flatters has been remanded in police custody and will appear before magistrates in Lincoln today. The charge comes after two men were earlier released on bail following their arrest for making allegedly offensive comments on Twitter about the murder.

Complaints were made to Avon and Somerset Police about remarks that appeared on the social networking website, which were allegedly of a racist or anti-religious nature.

A 23-year-old and a 22-year-old, both from Bristol, were held under the Public Order Act on suspicion of inciting racial or religious hatred.

Detective Inspector Ed Yaxley said: “People should stop and think about what they say on social media before making statements as the consequences could be serious.”