What really happened when a teenager was taken to Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital at the weekend after being stabbed, and how did it become a focus for anti-migrant tropes?

The distraught relatives and friends of a teenage stabbing victim unwittingly triggered a ‘lockdown’ at a Birmingham hospital when they turned up to be at his side and then became the focus of an unwelcome social media storm, we can confirm tonight.

The victim’s loved ones, numbering around 40 people, turned up at Heartlands Hospital after the stabbing incident in nearby Bordesley Green, which had left the 16-year-old boy seriously injured.

Emotional and anxious, the size of the gathering triggered emergency security protocols at the hospital, we can now confirm.

READ MORE: Boy charged with stabbing teen in Birmingham

Security and police were alerted and a partial lockdown was initiated, with doors in and out of A&E closed. Witnesses at the time reported being fearful as a result of the lockdown, with uncertainty about the motives of the group, and also reported that ambulances waiting outside to offload patients were checked by some members of the group as they searched for their loved one.

The group later dispersed peacefully, some to a second hospital in the city where the boy had been transferred on medical grounds.

But in the midst of the unfolding incident, social media became abuzz with claims that the group were ‘migrants’ who had stormed A&E, armed with weapons including axes – a falsehood that billionaire Elon Musk rapidly escalated. Retweeting it to his millions of followers, the tweet was supported with the original message, which claimed: “This migrant mob stormed a Birmingham hospital with axes and blades. The story was largely buried on mainstream media…if the far right had done it this story would be everywhere.”

The image accompanying it looked terrifying indeed, with hooded and masked men wielding metre long weapons. Turned out that was because it was utterly faked, generated by AI.

What really happened?

Rewind to Saturday afternoon, when reports began to emerge of an incident in Bordesley Green, which had resulted in a 16-year-old being stabbed. As news began to filter out locally, people took to social media to express their anger and frustration at more young lives blighted by violence in the city.

Then commentary began about possible trouble at Heartlands Hospital and went viral when a fake image was circulated showing an armed gang wielding metre-long weapons. At the same time, West Midlands Police issued a statement saying they were investigating possible ‘disorder’ at the hospital linked to the stabbing.

It was more than a day after the gathering that police indicated that the alleged ‘disorder’ was not what it might seem as they ruled out claims that ambulances had been raided, and a day later, at 3.30pm on Monday, the force confirmed there had been ‘no disorder’.

In a statement, they said: “We have confirmed (there was no disorder) with officers who were in attendance, ambulance officials, and hospital staff who were on duty at the time. After investigating, we have found that the boy’s family, along with community members close to him, gathered at the hospital and were understandably upset and concerned with his welfare. There was no disorder. Any claims of ambulances being raided or looted are untrue.

“Images being shared on social media which claim to show people carrying weapons at a hospital are fake.”

Shayan Sardarizadeh, senior journalist at BBC Verify, had done a rapid deep dive into the source of the image. Amid claims it featured a crowd scene from a Batman movie, Shayan’s conclusion was that it was faked, using AI.

But by that time, it had gone viral by Musk and appeared on multiple racist and far-right Facebook and WhatsApp channels. It handily played into racist tropes of out-of-control ethnic gangs reaping havoc in our otherwise peaceful streets.

There are several lessons to take away from this incident:

1. Don’t believe everything you read or see on social media. In the midst of an emergency incident, there can be confusion and uncertainty, including from the authorities. Emotions are heightened. Fact-checking can be difficult. Assumptions and guesses get translated into reality. Just hold your counsel before you hit the share or comment button.
2. If what you read or see is being used to highlight a particular political or social narrative, try to suspend your belief. Wait for official confirmation about what has happened, via a trusted source.
3. Hospitals and their staff are up against it at the best of times, often full to capacity in A&E and struggling to deal with people in pain and distress, and their concerned relatives. While anxiety about a loved one in emergency situations is completely understandable, try to nominate two people to represent all of you at the hospital.

The Timeline

• Saturday, 3.30pm: A 16-year-old boy is stabbed on Pretoria Road, Bordesley Green and is taken to Heartlands Hospital nearby with ‘serious injuries’.

• Sunday morning: West Midlands Police are investigating the stabbing but also release a statement to say they are ‘investigating reports of disorder involving a number of people at a Birmingham hospital which is believed to be linked to the stabbing incident.”
• Sunday, 6pm onwards: West Midlands Police respond to multiple social media posts and our inquiries about disorder claims, based on witness reports from inside the hospital, as follows: “Reports that ambulances were raided or unable to drop-off patients at two Birmingham hospitals following the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy yesterday, are untrue.”

• Sunday: A peaceful protest is held in Pretoria Road, scene of the original incident, to protest about crime levels in the area.
• Monday: Police confirm they have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the Pretoria Road stabbing. They also confirmed the boy’s condition has improved and he is now stable.
• Monday, 3.30pm: Police put out a further statement: “Following enquiries, we know that no disorder took place at any hospital in Birmingham following the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy.”
• Tuesday, 8:30am: Police confirm a boy, 16, has been charged with wounding with intent, possession of an offensive weapon and attempted robbery in connection with the incident.