Fake news site claimed boy had been stabbed in Northampton shopping centre

Northampton residents say they were left feeling "sickened" after a fake news site claimed that a "15-year-old boy was brutally stabbed after a fight broke out" in a shopping centre.
Northamptonshire Police today confirmed this story is fake.Northamptonshire Police today confirmed this story is fake.
Northamptonshire Police today confirmed this story is fake.

Prank site, breakingnews247.net 'reported' that the incident happened on March 23 at Weston Favell shopping centre.

In a disclaimer, the Belgium-based site, says: "This website is an entertainment website, the news is created by users. These are humourous news, fantasy and fictional, that should not be seriously taken or as a source of information."

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The website invites people to write their own articles and trick their friends in a bid to make readers "curious."

Many people in Northampton believed the 'report' to be true and asked the Chronicle & Echo to look into the story.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police today confirmed that the incident didn't happen and was never reported as a crime.

Chronicle & Echo reader Gem Wheeler said: "It's sickening. The website posting it is apparently a prank site for fake news but people are worrying and thinking it's real. Very sad."

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Resident, Nina Thomas said: "It's a big concern as a parent when stories like this are shared around that are not true."

Weston Favell shopping centre has refused to provide a statement, while breakingnews247.net have been approached for further comment.

The fake article has now been removed.