Thousands Duped by Fake Birmingham New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display

Social media hoax, potentially fueled by AI-generated content, led to large crowds gathering for a non-existent event despite prior police warnings.

Thousands of people gathered in Birmingham's Centenary Square on New Year's Eve after false social media posts advertised a fireworks display that did not exist.
West Midlands Police had issued warnings earlier in the day, urging the public not to travel to the city center as no official event was planned.
The social media rumors appear to have been spread through AI-generated blog posts and a now-deleted Instagram post by a popular local page, Birmingham Updates.
Some attendees reportedly set off their own small fireworks in frustration, raising safety concerns in the densely packed crowd.
The incident follows a similar hoax in Dublin last Halloween, highlighting growing concerns about the role of AI and misinformation in organizing fake public events.