The latest tweets from @MPSMerton. Two Scottish teens arrested over Met Police Twitter hack Obscene messages appeared on force's official Twitter account following breach of MyNewsDesk platform. By: Bobby Hellard. Metropolitan Police Saturday July 20, 2019, 12:39 AM Screengrab taken from Twitter of @metpoliceuk, the official twitter account of the Metropolitan Police, which appeared to have been hacked. The Metropolitan Police was left red-faced after pranksters apparenlty targeted its Twitter account in a late-night hack. The Mets Police focus on the off-field life of the New York Mets fan, with a particular interest in uniforms and ticket prices.
Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Sadiq Khan by suggesting the London mayor was to blame for the hacking of the Metropolitan Police's Twitter account.
The president retweeted a post by former reality TV star Katie Hopkins, who took a screenshot of one of the messages.
In the tweet, Ms Hopkins wrote: 'The Met Police.
With the incompetent Mayor of London, you will never have safe streets! https://t.co/pJqL1NjyvA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2019'Officers says they have lost control of London streets. Apparently they lost control of their twitter account too.'
Mr Trump then retweeted her comments, adding: 'With the incompetent Mayor of London, you will never have safe streets!'
The president famously does not see eye-to-eye with the capital's mayor, frequently hitting out at him on social media.
It comes the morning after the Metropolitan Police lost control of their media accounts when a series of bizarre messages appeared on the force's twitter feed.
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'What you gonna do call the police?', 'We are the police... Cal and Dylan are gay' and 'no comment get my lawyer' were among some of the authorised messages that appeared on Friday night but have since been deleted.
A number of the tweets also called for the release of drill rap artist Digga D and linked to false press releases regarding the rapper and an apparently missing child.
Emails linking to bogus press releases calling for Digga D's release were also sent from Scotland Yard's press bureau.
A Scotland Yard superintendent said the account, which has more than 1.22 million followers, had 'been subject to unauthorised access'.
Superintendent Roy Smith tweeted at the time: 'Our media team are working hard to delete the messages and ensure the security of the account.
'Please ignore any Tweets until we verify that it is back under official control.'
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Some of the posts received hundreds of likes and retweets.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement the security breach had only affected their MyNewsDesk account, which publishes to the Met's website and Twitter accounts and generates emails.
It said there had been 'no 'hack' of the Met Police's own IT infrastructure'.
The statement continued: 'When a story is published via MyNewsDesk, it appears on the Met's website and Twitter accounts and generates an email to those who've subscribed to receive our news updates.
'Last night, Friday 19 July, unauthorised messages appeared on the news section of our website as well as on the @metpoliceuk Twitter feed and in emails sent to subscribers.
'While we are still working to establish exactly what happened, we have begun making changes to our access arrangements to MyNewsDesk.
'We apologise to our subscribers and followers for the messages they have received.'
The force said it was working to establish what criminal offences had been committed.
Metropolitan Police officers have been criticised for allowing people to breach social distancing rules on Westminster Bridge during the weekly round of applause for frontline workers.
Footage from Thursday night showed hundreds of people, including members of the emergency services, gathered closely together at 8pm for the Clap for Carers event to recognise NHS staff and other key workers.
The videos show police cars with their lights flashing and people lining the bridge near the Houses of Parliament.
Some people expressed shock that people were allowed to be in such close proximity, given the police guidelines for lockdown and the accepted reasons for leaving the house.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick was also present but appeared to be more than two metres from other people.
Twitter user Damir Rafi, a doctor at St Thomas's which is on the opposite side of the River Thames and where Boris Johnson was treated for coronavirus, said he was 'perplexed by the lack of social distancing'.
Met Police Twitter Barnet
Elaine Paterson wrote: 'I honestly can't get my head around this. I've been feeling bad about going out for a wee jog around the quiet back streets every few days - meanwhile the police appear to be endorsing a blooming festival on #westminsterbridge!'
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The Metropolitan Police shared a video on its Twitter account showing people clapping at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, again in close proximity.
One user's comment was: 'I see social distancing doesn't apply on Thursday evenings.'
Officers across the country have been dispersing groups on beaches or in parks, stopping people from sitting on benches or from going on unnecessary drives.
More than 3,200 fines were handed out by police in England between 27 March and 13 April to those who have flouted the rules.
Officers joined #clapforNHS outside Chelsea and Westminster hospital tonight
Thank you to the real heroes. #ClapForCarerspic.twitter.com/aTEZCPgseF
Following the criticism, the Metropolitan Police released a statement which said: 'Officers, along with other emergency service workers, came together last night on Westminster Bridge to celebrate the work of all key workers.
Met Police Twitter Lewisham
'A large number of members of the public also gathered to express their gratitude.
'While many people adhered to social distancing guidance, it appears that some did not.
'We regularly remind our officers of the importance of social distancing where practical, and will continue do so.'
Met Police Fc Twitter
The prime minister's official spokesperson said: 'We would ask that everyone takes responsibility and adheres to social distancing so we can safely show appreciation to those fighting coronavirus.'