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Instagram riot probe nears completion

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Instagram riot probe nears completion

The Swedish police are close to wrapping up their investigation into the "slut-shaming" account on Instagram that caused Gothenburg teenagers to riot last year.

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More than 50 victims have offered the police screen shots of derogatory or insulting comments about them left on the Instagram account, which asked people to spread gossip about others' sexual activities.

In all, about 85 teenagers have reported other teens' comments about them and their private lives to the police.

Many of the comments, several of which used graphic and obscene language, are being investigated as possible slander.

SEE ALSO: 'Friends snitching is the worst' - Irma, 16, was one of the girls affected by the Instagram slut-shaming riot

At the time, in late December, the mud-slinging on the popular photo-sharing site seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back for teenagers fed up with accusation and counter-accusations online.

The original account holder, who had a pseudonym, had also promised the ratting teens anonymity - a promise that was reportedly broken, with ensuing pandemonium.

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES FROM THE 'INSTAGRAM RIOTS'

A riot ensued as hundreds of students assembled outside the Plusgymnasiet high school in an attempt to find the owner of the anonymous Instagram account - at the time believed to have been a 17-year-old girl, whom the police had already taken to safety earlier in the day.

Video from the scene

She was later cleared of all suspicions.

Police made 27 arrests as some teenagers engaged in vandalism and resisted orders. A smaller mob the following day also caused enough of a commotion to lead to several arrests.

TT/The Local/at

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