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Brussels attacks: Croydon man charged after tweet 'confronting Muslim woman over Brussels attacks'

Matthew Doyle is accused of publishing or distributing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, likely or intended to stir up racial hatred

Friday 25 March 2016 08:58 GMT

Matthew Doyle was arrested following his tweet about the confrontation of the Muslim woman (Twitter/Matthew Doyle)

A man charged after a message was posted on his Twitter profile about confronting a Muslim woman over the Brussels attacks is no longer charged with the offence, police say.

A tweet appeared on Matthew Doyle from South Croydon’s Twitter account on Wednesday, which said: “I confronted a Muslim woman yesterday in Croydon. I asked her to explain Brussels.”

Scotland Yard said he is no longer charged with the offence and will not be appearing in court following discussion with the Crown Prosecuting Service.

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Wreaths of flowers in front of an entrance of the Maalbeek subway station in Brussels in homage to the victims of a terrorist attack.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Wreaths of flowers in front of an entrance of the Maalbeek subway station in Brussels in homage to the victims of a terrorist attack.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A building illuminated with the Belgian flag colours and a heart in Brussels, two days after suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on March 22 in Zaventem airport and subway Maelbeek.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A picture taken on 24 March, 2016 on place de la Bourse in Brussels, shows drawings and a candle, two days after suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on March 22 in Zaventem airport and Brussels subway Maelbeek

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Candles are displayed in tribute to the Brussels attacks victims on 24 March, 2016 on place de la Bourse in Brussels, two days after the suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on 22 March.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A mourner lights a candle in Trafalgar Square during a candlelit vigil in support of the victims of the recent terror attacks in Brussels.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels airport workers pay tribute to the victims near Zaventem

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Activists light candles and hold placards to condemn the terrorist attacks in Belgium, during a gathering in Manila, Philippines

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A banner for the victims of the bombings reads "I am Brussels" at the Place de la Bourse in the center of Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left front center, stands with front row, left to right, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Belgium's King Philippe, Belgium's Queen Mathilde and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel as well as members of the European Commission during a minute of silence at EU headquarters in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

People join hands in solidarity near the former stock exchange following the bomb attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Belgium flags ornate the facade of the Paris Town Hall

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A woman embraces her children at The Place de la Bourse as she pays her respects to victims of the terrorists attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Belgian and European Union flags fly at half mast following the bomb attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Candles in the colors of the Belgian national flag are lit inside the Belgian embassy in Madrid, a day after the deadly suicide attacks on the Brussels airport and its subway system

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Servicemen of Azov, Ukrainian volunteers battalion, hold torches in front of floral tributes during a ceremony in front of the Belgian embassy in Kiev, in tribute to the victims of Brussels attacks

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A refugee boy holds up a placard reading "Sorry for Brussels" at a refugee camp near the Greek-Macedonian border

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

People light candles in tribute to victims at a makeshift memorial at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

A woman holds a drawing by French cartoonist Plantu picturing a character made of a French flag consoling another made of the Belgian flag, in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

The colours of the Belgian flag are projected on to (clockwise from top left) the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the town council building in Belgrade, Rome's Campidoglio and the Royal Palace at Dam Square in Amsterdam

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

Candles are lit in tribute to the victims, at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

A woman holds a placard reading "Paris hearts Belgium, How much time will it take us to open our eyes and say STOP, Today our hearts are broken, Open your eyes to change the future" at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

People gather to pay a tribute to victims of terrorist attacks in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

People write messages on the ground at Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

A bouquet of flowers in the Belgian national colours with a card reading 'To our neighbours, to our friends, to our Belgian brothers - an indignant Parisian' is seen next to a French national flag at the fence of the Belgian embassy in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

Solidarity messages are written in chalk outside the stock exchange in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

Messages and floral tributes outside the Brussels stock exchange

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A statement issued by Metropolitan police on Friday said he had "been charged under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986; publishing or distributing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, likely or intended to stir up racial hatred."

Mr Doyle, a partner at a south-London based talent and PR agency, was arrested on Wednesday and charged on Friday morning, before the charge was dropped Friday evening.