We became aware that there was a warning to parents in Tower Hamlets on a WhatsApp group and the message was forwarded to us. It read: ” Hello, anyone who takes their children to park around Tower Hamlets please be mindful recently some parents have found nails/shape objects placed on swings/slides to cause harm. “

We posted this on X and Facebook and Threads as the pictures were alarming and looked very real. A further investigation online found that this is a picture taken from an article published in The Mail regarding the event in an Oxfordshire village.

It is always a worry when rumours are spread around WhatsApp groups because they can cause mass hysteria. We simultaneously became aware of similar stories being spread via other WhatsApp community groups and gotten worried that this is getting out of hand.

Further articles spread the rumour that nails had been found in playgrounds around Kensington and Chelsea also.

We contacted Tower Hamlets Police the following day, after more stories appeared, who assured us that no evidence had been found in Greater London anywhere but the only incident was in the Oxfordshire village and people took the pictures and adapted them for other areas.

Officers from @metpoliceuk have already carried out sweeps across @RBKC today and spoken to Parents and Guardians regarding being vigilant etc. No spikes or nails were found on any equipment. If anyone sees spikes or nails they should report it straight away. 999 calls

— Tower Hamlets Crime Watch (@th_crime_watch) May 15, 2024

Met Police said they searched all Playground in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and found no nails. Parents should be vigilant and check all playground equipment of playgrounds they visit and if they find anything dangerous to call 999.

We published the pictures and stories together with the statement from police to show that these stories were fabricated. Pictures looked all very much the same but within different frames.

Then the BBC also published a fact article, mentioning us as the source of the publications, but that is in fact not true as the source were various WhatsApp groups who shared that material prior to us publishing it. We thought it best to discuss this on the open web because WhatsApp groups can fester misinformation.

We connected with the WhatsApp groups, we have contact to, to notify them that the stories are rumours and do not apply to Tower Hamlets and the only incidence was in Oxfordshire.

We completely understand that parents are concerned but it is clear that some people amplified the story out of all proportion.