By KLTV Newsdesk –
Many shops and businesses across Huddersfield’s Town Centre decided to close early today (Monday 5 August) after information about a planned riot appeared to spread across social media.
Posts from an anonymous account on X (formerly Twitter) originally claimed that a riot was planned to take place at 1 pm at Huddersfield Train Station.
This was then picked up and spread further with community leaders and residents advising each other to avoid the town centre, which resulted in many businesses, including the Huddersfield Open Market, closing early amid fears of being caught in any potential rioting.
West Yorkshire Police also took note of the rumours, releasing a statement and deploying a significant police presence to Huddersfield Train Station.
However, scenes from outside the train station around the rumoured time of the protest showed only the large police presence and a small group of counter-protesters sitting by the entrance steps.
One local councillor has branded the plans as ‘fake news’ and urged people to ‘think of the ramifications’ before reposting information found online.
Cllr Tony McGrath (Conservative, Holme Valley North) took to his Facebook page to denounce the rumours, claiming that the “whole story started from a Twitter account yesterday with five followers and a handle that can only be described as ‘bot’ like.”
Cllr McGrath said that it appeared shops were then “scared into closing by visits from the police” and that “councillors added fuel to the fire by stating there was an organised protest”
He described the whole situation as “embarrassing” and said that councillors “should know better”.
For now, the police presence has remained in St George’s Square, and it is hoped that businesses will be able to return to normal opening hours by tomorrow.
