Key Points
- The Facebook video posted by West Derby branch of Reform UK on Sunday, October 25 has spread misleading information claiming that a man was shot in Tuebrook.
- However, according to the police statement, the claims have been proved false as the property was not an HMOC property and there were no shots fired in any way.
- The real incident took place on Thursday, October 22 at a property on Balmoral Road in Fairfield, and not Windsor Road in Tuebrook as it was wrongly stated in the video.
- Claims that there were “gun shots” and a “bomb” explosion followed by the death of a man have been denied by the Liverpool Echo newspaper.
- The post had received 119,000 views by October 27.
- It has been reported that the police had come at the scene for a report concerning concern for a man’s safety, and that the man was found well but three people were arrested.
- Adrian Mucha, 19, who is homeless, has been charged for blackmail.
- At the same time, two men aged 60 years and 36 years have been arrested because of suspicion of false imprisonment and later were released under a bail condition during investigations.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 27, 2026 — A Reform UK branch in Liverpool has apologised after sharing a video that wrongly claimed a man had been shot dead in Tuebrook, according to reporting by the Liverpool Echo. Merseyside Police said no one was shot during the incident and that the property involved was not a Home Office House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
The video was published on the Reform UK West Derby branch’s Facebook page on Sunday, October 25. It showed officers approaching and entering a semi-detached property, with loud bangs heard from inside. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the person filming claimed that a “bomb” had gone off and that a man had been killed after gunshots were fired.
The Echo established that the footage was filmed on Balmoral Road in Fairfield, rather than Windsor Road in Tuebrook as stated in the Reform UK post. The force later confirmed that the police response took place on Thursday, October 22.
What Did Merseyside Police Say?
Merseyside Police said officers were contacted on the evening of Thursday, October 22, following concern for the safety of a man. A force spokesperson said officers traced him to an address on Balmoral Road in Fairfield and took him to a place of safety.
After the Liverpool Echo approached the force, police posted a comment on the Reform UK branch’s Facebook post. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the force said: “We would like to make it clear that no-one was shot during this incident and the property we attended is not a Home Office HMO.”
The police comment added: “Officers were deployed to Balmoral Road in Fairfield last Thursday because concerns had been reported about a man’s safety.” The force said the man was found safe and three other men were arrested.
Who Has Been Arrested and Charged?
Merseyside Police said three men were arrested following enquiries at the property. Adrian Mucha, 19, of no fixed abode, was charged with blackmail, remanded into custody and appeared before magistrates on Saturday, October 24.
A 60-year-old man and a 36-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment. Both have been released on bail while police enquiries continue.
The force said further details would be heard in open court in due course.
Why Did Reform UK Apologise?
Deborah Richards, chair of the Reform UK West Derby branch, issued an apology after the false claims were published. In a statement to the Liverpool Echo on October 27, she said the information had been sent by a resident who filmed the incident.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Richards said:
“I did make a statement on Facebook, the information was sent by a resident filming the incident as you can see and hear from the recording.”
She added that the branch campaigns across West Derby and receives information from residents about problems in the constituency. “Unfortunately we took the information from a resident as a fact,” she said.
Richards said the branch had since apologised for the incorrect information. She also said residents’ concerns remained important to Reform UK and that “an incident took place and is of concern to the community”.
The branch also responded directly to Merseyside Police’s comment on the post, saying: “Thank you for clarifying. Apologies for the incorrect information, we was sent this information by residents in the area.”
How Widely Was the False Video Seen?
The post had attracted significant attention before it was corrected. The Liverpool Echo reported that, by Monday, October 26, the video had received more than 70,000 views and more than 130 comments.
By the following morning, October 27, the Echo reported that the post had been viewed around 119,000 times. The publication said the post included the branch’s claim that the building was an “alleged HMO”, which police said was not accurate.
The Facebook post was edited on the morning of October 27. The Echo reported that the edit clarified that the information originally shared was incorrect and included information provided by the newspaper.
Background to the Development
The dispute began after footage of a police operation at a property on Balmoral Road in Fairfield circulated online. The Liverpool Echo confirmed that the incident occurred on Thursday, October 22, and involved officers responding to a concern for a man’s safety.
Reform UK West Derby shared the footage two days later, on Sunday, October 25, with claims that a man had been shot and killed and that the property was an “alleged HMO”. The Echo reported that both the location and the shooting claim were wrong, while police also rejected the HMO claim.
The branch’s apology followed the Echo’s reporting and Merseyside Police’s public correction. The case highlights how quickly unverified video claims can spread on social media, particularly when they are shared by political organisations with established local followings.
Prediction: What This Means for Liverpool Residents
For Liverpool residents, the development is likely to increase attention on the importance of checking official police updates before sharing dramatic footage or claims about local incidents. The police response made clear that the reported shooting did not happen, while confirming that a separate criminal investigation is ongoing.
For Reform UK supporters and voters in West Derby, the episode may prompt closer scrutiny of how local branch social-media accounts verify material sent by residents. The branch has acknowledged that it treated a resident’s account as fact, and its apology may affect confidence in future posts from the same page.
For the wider community, the case may also reinforce the need for careful language around housing and policing. Police specifically stated that the property was not a Home Office HMO, a point likely to matter to residents concerned about misinformation linking local incidents to asylum or immigration policy.
