REVEALED: The Russian-linked fake news website which fuelled lies about the Southport stabbings and sparked violent protests

A Russian-linked fake news website fuelled lies that sparked violent protests over the Southport stabbings. The Mail can reveal that Channel3 Now, which claims to be based in the US but has paid for high-end privacy protections, started life 11 years ago as a Russian YouTube channel that posted videos of rally-driving in the snow in Izhevsk, a Russian city about 750 miles east of Moscow A police van was set on fire near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as riots broke out Trouble flares during a protest in Southport, after three children died and eight were injured in a knife attack Smoke is seen billowing from a police van which was set ablaze during protests in Southport on Tuesday The allegations were leapt on by Russian state media and hard-Right activist Tommy Robinson The allegations were leapt on by Russian state media, hard-Right activist Tommy Robinson, and misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate, who added fuel to the fire by telling his 10 million followers that an 'illegal migrant' has stabbed '6 little girls', adding: 'Wake up.' Southport MP Patrick Hurley blamed Tuesday's clashes on 'a swirling morass on social media of lies and propaganda', and last night riot police were tackling unruly crowds outside Downing Street. Protesters try to break through a barrier as riot police wearing helmets try to control the violence in London on Wednesday Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on Tuesday night in Southport Protesters cheer as they launch bins at riot police vans amid ugly scenes on Tuesday in Southport In its online report of the Southport stabbings, Russia Today – Vladimir Putin's state broadcaster – repeated Channel3 Now's lies.