Pair who ‘taunted taxi driver over New Zealand attacks’ in Rochdale charged by police

Greater Manchester Police investigating several incidents connected to deadly Christchurch shooting

Two people in Rochdale have been charged after a taxi driver allegedly suffered racist abuse from passengers, who referenced the terrorist attack on a Christchurch mosque.

Sean Allen, 33, and Natalie Rudman, 34, were charged with a public order offence after an incident in in the early hours of Sunday morning, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Officers had attended the scene in Queensway, a residential road on the outskirts of the town, just before 12.20am.

GMP said it had been responding to a report that passengers had referenced the New Zealand terror attacks while abusing and threatening a taxi driver.

Mr Allen, from Collyhurst, and Ms Rudman, from Heywood, were bailed to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 9 April.

Police in Manchester said they had been informed of several incidents over the weekend connected to the New Zealand shootings, in which a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques on Friday.

The force also arrested a 24-year-old Oldham man on Saturday over comments allegedly made on social media following the attack. He was later bailed pending further enquiries.

“It is absolutely clear that compassion and support is how the overwhelming majority of people feel and, as always, Greater Manchester stands together,” GMP assistant chief constable Russ Jackson said on Sunday.

“Over the weekend we have had, however, a small number of incidents where people have either posted or made remarks referencing the horrible events in New Zealand, particularly online where people often think it is acceptable to abuse others.

“Some of these comments are frankly disgusting. I am amazed how some people think it is acceptable to make such careless and disrespectful remarks.

“People are entitled to free speech and this is always respected, however, where this crosses the boundary into criminal offences, let me be really clear, we will make arrests and if the evidence is there we will seek the prosecution of those involved.”

New Zealand police have charged Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian national, with carrying out the mass shootings at Christchurch’s Al Noor and Linwood mosques.

Law enforcement agencies in Australia have since searched two homes linked to the alleged gunman in New South Wales.

His family are said to be assisting with the investigation.