West Midlands Police raised some eyebrows on social media after proudly announcing they had arrested a 12-year-old boy just hours after he sent racist threats and images of the Ku Klux Klan to footballer Wilfried Zaha.
Prior to a Sunday match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Zaha tweeted out the hateful messages he received overnight.
“Woke up to this today,” Zaha wrote. Screenshots of the messages included a threat to come to the athlete’s house “dressed as a ghost” if he scored in his upcoming match. Zaha also added a screenshot of the account that had sent the messages his way.
Woke up to this today. pic.twitter.com/Zal0F96htJ
The extreme nature of the messages kicked off a campaign of solidarity with Zaha, and calls for immediate arrest and prosecution of the offender.
We’re with you, @wilfriedzaha ❤️#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/6Nos1gc3vH
“This is abhorrent, unacceptable and criminal. There can be no room for racism of any kind in football or a civil society,” Claudia Webbe, the Labour MP for Leicester East, tweeted.
Hello Wilfred Zaha. I don’t know you. I have heard of you. I’m not a football fan. I am horrified by these images. You should not be receiving foul rubbish like this. Twitter will have to act. This has to stop. Solidarity. Maureen Cooper.
Zaha also received support from the Premier League, while the manager of the Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson, praised him for making the messages public.
“I think it is right that Wilf made people aware of it; I don’t think it is something he should keep quiet about,” he said. “There is literally no excuse; there is no excuse at all.”
This behaviour is completely unacceptable and the Premier League stands alongside @wilfriedzaha in opposing this, and discrimination in any formThere is #NoRoomForRacism, anywhere. https://t.co/8KqG5J3Kxr
Authorities jumped on the case in full force and, within hours, an arrest was made.
“We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy,” West Midlands Police announced.
The 12-year-old from Solihull has been taken to custody
#ARRESTED| We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy.The 12-year-old from #Solihull has been taken to custody.Thanks to everyone who raised it. Racism won’t be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/oFxBUvdtV1
The fact that police resources went into swiftly arresting a 12-year-old has, however, led some to question the priorities of West Midlands Police.
“Maybe talk to his parents?” suggested Huffington Post contributor Yashar Ali. “Arresting a 12-year-old?”
Thank god that dangerous criminal id off the streets. Must have been quite harrowing for the arresting officers but I’m just glad they’re all safe. If you’re looking for your next big bust I hear there’s a group of toddlers refusing to quiet down for nap time.
“Imagine boasting about arresting a 12 year old,” Breitbart News investigative journalist Allum Bokhari tweeted in reaction to the arrest announcement.
the global mastermind of racism has finally been caught
While many echoed similar sentiments, questioning what effect digital messages from a teenager to a grown man could actually have, some have still argued that the incident could at least teach the boy a lesson that his family and society appear to have failed to pass on to him.
A famous soccer player gets a 12-year-old Brit arrested for criticizing him.This is the freedom Hong Kong is now missing out on! https://t.co/QXkGx9tTT6
Kid deserved it. His messages were atrociously racist and threatening. This will be a lesson to other kids on the internet who think being racist and threatening behind a screen has no consequences. Kids like that grow up to be white supremacists
A 12 year old boy ARRESTED for hurting a grown man’s feelings with internet words.You know if we brought the cane back into schools these kids would be fine. pic.twitter.com/7TdT3bFINs
He should learn from early on. Be racist, take responsibility. They should arrest his family though not the kid
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