A man and teenage boy have been bailed after their arrests in connection with the viral “London Red vs Blue school wars” social media trend.
Officers arrested a man in his 20s and a 15-year-old boy in central east London last Sunday (March 1) at around 6.45pm.
The men were arrested on suspicion of encouraging or assisting in a crime and both were in police custody.
However they have since been released on bail.
Police said the arrests relate to a recent trend of social media posts which encouraged pupils to engage in violence against each other.
The wider “Red vs Blue” trend saw posts on TikTok and Snapchat frame after-school meet-ups as confrontations between rival schools, dividing pupils into colour-coded teams.
Some circulating posts referenced bringing items such as compasses and metal combs, prompting warnings from schools and increased patrols across several boroughs.
In some areas, parents were advised to collect children directly from school gates as a precaution, and Section 35 dispersal orders were put in place.
There have been no public reports of violence carried out due to the trend.
Police have not confirmed whether further arrests are expected.
Share