A boy aged 13 has been arrested for allegedly encouraging other children to fight with weapons during so-called “school wars” that spread from London to the parts of the UK on social media.
The teenager, from Sheffield, is accused of malicious communications and an alleged public order offence.
He remains in police custody, South Yorkshire Police said.
Earlier this month a 15-year-old boy and a man in his 20s were detained in east London by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of encouraging or assisting crime.
Children as young as 11 were encouraged to fight rival pupils in posts circulating on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
Posters inspired by notorious Los Angeles street gangs the Bloods and Crips feature men in balaclavas.
They urge “Red vs Blue” clashes between students who can “be violent” by arming themselves with compasses, metal combs, scissors, rulers and other weapons including kitchen knives and fireworks.
Each school is listed under “sides” for mass brawl “rounds” in boroughs including Hackney, Islington, Camden, Newham, Croydon, Greenwich, Havering and Rainham.
The Met put officers on the gates - and even detentions at several schools in the capital cancelled.
Last month, a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed two boys aged 12 and 13 in the neck and squirted another with insect spray at Kingsbury High School, Brent.
In Sheffield, Inspector Katie Hammond said: “We know how worried parents, families, staff and pupils have been since these social media posts started appearing here in South Yorkshire and we have provided support and reassurance to our local schools and communities through a high-visibility presence and increased patrols.
“Behind the scenes we have also been actively monitoring social media and carrying out intelligence checks, and doing all we can to track down the accounts responsible and shut them down.
“We are taking this matter seriously and are doing everything in our power to deal with it swiftly and robustly.
“I believe the overwhelming majority of children here in South Yorkshire understand this trend is reckless and irresponsible, and not at all reflective of the real, positive relationships which exist between our educational establishments, young people and communities.”
Al Quds to go ahead as 'static' London demonstration after march banned
Stansted Airport signal fault disrupts services to Liverpool Street station - live
‘Static’ Al Quds Day protest could still cause serious disorder, Mahmood told
New David Hockney paintings depicting members of inner circle to go on display
.jpg?w=600)
