Teen charged over social media comments following Manchester attack

The teenager was arrested in North Belfast.

A teenager has been charged by the PSNI over comments made on social media following Monday night's attack in Manchester which killed 22 people and left 59 others injured. According to Belfast Live, the 19-year-old was arrested in North Belfast under the Malicious Communications Act after he made the comments on social media. The Malicious Communications Act, which also applies to online communication, is a British Act of Parliament that makes it illegal in England and Wales to "send or deliver letters or other articles for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety". The teen has been charged with improper use of a public electronic communications network. He is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, June 19. In 2014, 694 individuals were found guilty of offences under the Malicious Communications Act, a ten-fold increase on the figure from 2004.