Police drop charge over 'mealy mouthed reply' tweet

A man facing a social media race-hate charge over a tweet about confronting a Muslim woman over the Brussels attacks has seen the charge against him dropped.

Matthew Doyle, 46, from South Croydon, was arrested after a message was posted on his Twitter profile saying: "I confronted a Muslim woman yesterday in Croydon. I asked her to explain Brussels. She said 'Nothing to do with me'. A mealy mouthed reply."

On Friday, the Metropolitan Police announced he had been charged with publishing or distributing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, likely or intended to stir up racial hatred.

But hours later a police spokesman said Mr Doyle was "no longer charged with the offence", following a discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service.