LONDON – British police say they are investigating a threat of rape and murder made to a legislator on Twitter, the latest in a string of violent messages directed at high-profile women on the social networking site.
Labour party legislator Stella Creasy was targeted after she tweeted in support of feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, who received a torrent of abuse after she campaigned, successfully, for Jane Austen to appear on a British bank note.
Read More: Rape-threat tweets cause social media controversy
The Metropolitan Police said today it was investigating “an allegation of malicious communications” on Twitter.
The incidents have led to calls for Twitter to take action against abusive commenters, known as trolls.
Twitter said it took the issue seriously and planned to expand a “report abuse” button, already available on its iPhone app, to other platforms.
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