Man behind Southport riots jailed for incitement through social media

Picture credit: Merseyside Police

Andrew McIntyre, a 39-year-old man from Rufford, Lancashire, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for his role in the Southport riots last year.
The protests and riots that erupted across England and Northern Ireland in July 2024 followed a mass stabbing in Southport on 29 July, in which three children tragically lost their lives.
The riots were partly instigated by McIntyre’s actions on social media. He had created a Telegram channel named “Southport wake up” where he spread false information and incited violence after a knife attack in the area.
Police arrested McIntyre after he was found in the area of the riot with a knife in his car. A search of his home revealed weapons and a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf.
According to a report by The Guardian, the court heard that McIntyre was deeply involved in organising the disturbances, using the channel to direct people to violent confrontations.
He even issued direct threats to officers, warning of violence if they interfered. One of his posts read: “Stand in our way, even if you’re just doing your job… prepare to fall,” ahead of the riots on 30 July 2024.
McIntyre had also shared violent content from far-right groups and planned further acts of violence the day after the initial riots.
The court was told that McIntyre’s online behaviour reflected his deeply racist and violent views, which he aimed to spread to others.