FOLLOWING a 2 half year investigation involving:- Merseyside Police and United States law enforcement, 3 people have been charged in relation to the reporting of fabricated serious incidents to prompt an emergency response in the USA and Canada.
Dylan Ash, an 18 year old man, from:- Warrington, and 22 year old Liam White, from:- Western Super,Mare in Somerset, have been charged with three counts of conspiring together and with others to do a series of acts tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.
Keiron Ellison, 18 years, from:- St Helens, has been charged with 2 counts of conspiring together and with others to do a series of acts tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.
The 3 defendants will appear at:- Liverpool Magistrates' Court on:- Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Detective Sergeant Steve Frame, said:- "The charges are the culmination of an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police working with US law enforcement, including the FBI. They relate to the online activities of an internet based group between October 2022 and April 2023, which planned, advertised and carried out calls to emergency services and internet celebrities reporting fabricated serious, life threatening incidents, ‘active shooter threats’ to prompt an emergency response."
Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said:- "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these three defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."
Dylan Ash, an 18 year old man, from:- Warrington, and 22 year old Liam White, from:- Western Super,Mare in Somerset, have been charged with three counts of conspiring together and with others to do a series of acts tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.
Keiron Ellison, 18 years, from:- St Helens, has been charged with 2 counts of conspiring together and with others to do a series of acts tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.
The 3 defendants will appear at:- Liverpool Magistrates' Court on:- Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Detective Sergeant Steve Frame, said:- "The charges are the culmination of an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police working with US law enforcement, including the FBI. They relate to the online activities of an internet based group between October 2022 and April 2023, which planned, advertised and carried out calls to emergency services and internet celebrities reporting fabricated serious, life threatening incidents, ‘active shooter threats’ to prompt an emergency response."
Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said:- "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these three defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."
Charges are as follows...
Both Liam White and Dylan Ash have been charged with the following:-
- Between:- 1 October 2022 and 30 June 2023 conspired together and with others to do a series of acts in the jurisdiction of Canada tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 1(A) Criminal Law Act 1977 and Common Law.
- Between:- 1 October 2022 and 30 June 2023 conspired together and with others to do a series of acts in the jurisdiction of the United States of America tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 1(A) Criminal Law Act 1977 and Common Law.
- Between:- 1 July 2023 and 30 October 2024 conspired together and with others to do a series of acts in the jurisdiction of the United States of America tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 1(A) Criminal Law Act 1977 and Common Law.
- Between:- 1 October 2022 and 30 June 2023 conspired together and with others to do a series of acts in the jurisdiction of Canada tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 1(A) Criminal Law Act 1977 and Common Law.
- Between:- 1 October 2022 and 30 June 2023 conspired together and with others to do a series of acts in the jurisdiction of the United States of America tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 1(A) Criminal Law Act 1977 and Common Law.