Twitter 'Did Not Incite Manchester Riots'

Researchers say Twitter did not incite Manchester Riots after studying millions of tweets.

A study has found Twitter was a force for good during the summer riots in Manchester after looking at millions of messages posted by users.

According to the research, the social networking site helped to sort the clean-up operations after the rioting.

2.4 million tweets sent in August were studied and researchers found "no evidence" to back calls that Twitter should be closed down for inciting unrest.

Professor Rob Procter from the University of Manchester, who led the team, said: 

"Politicians and commentators were quick to claim that social media played an important role in inciting and organising riots, calling for esites such as Twitter to be closed should events of this nature happen again.

"But our study found no evidence of significance in the available data that would justify such a course of action in respect to Twitter."

The riots broke out in north London, on August 6, after the fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan. They then quickly spread to other parts of the capital and other cities including Manchester