Social networks which hosted the Plymouth gunman’s posts about his failed love life said they have removed his accounts.
Jake Davison’s Facebook contained conspiracy theories similar to those pushed by QAnon supporters, with posts about ‘paedophiles’ and ‘devil worshipers’ in the US government.
He posted several vlogs on YouTube in which he complained about being a ‘f****** fat ugly virgin’, described feeling ‘defeated in life’ and appeared to follow a number of pro-gun accounts.
Davison, 22, murdered five civilians last night before turning the gun on himself in Britain’s worst mass shooting since 2010.
He described himself as an ‘incel’, meaning ‘involuntary celibate’ – a member of an online subculture of people who complain of not being able to have a sex life.
Both his YouTube and Facebook accounts were removed by about lunchtime on Friday, and a Reddit account believed to belong to Davison could not be accessed on Friday evening.
Facebook said his was removed under its dangerous individuals and organisations policy, which does not allow mass murderers on either platform.
Google-owned YouTube said the gunman’s account had been terminated under its offline behaviour policy.
Rules on the platform prohibit inciting violence, including encouraging others to go to a particular place to commit violence or to perform violence at a particular time, the tech giant said.
Google added that it will comply with any police requests made through proper legal processes.
It is understood the Reddit account thought to belong to Davison was suspended on August 11 due to a violation of its policies.
A spokesperson for the social network said: ‘We take these matters very seriously. Our investigation is ongoing.’
Davison launched his massacre with a weapon described as a ‘pump action shotgun’ in the Keyham area of the city shortly after 6pm on Thursday.
His victims included his own mum and a three-year-old girl. All victims have been named and pictured.
Footage of the scene appeared to show a person’s body lying on a pavement, with a police officer shouting at passers-by to ‘go away please’.
The video was repeatedly shared on social media, as local MPs and Devon and Cornwall Police directly urged people not to re-post it.
Twitter said it had removed a number of tweets related to the attack which it said had ‘violated our rules, including our Sensitive Media policy’.
Tonight Devon and Cornwall Police chief constable Shaun Sawyer confirmed that detectives are examining Davison’s social media output as part of their investigation.
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