Man is charged with posting offensive tweet about two Newcastle United fans who died in MH17 plane crash

Mit chell Tace Chapman charged with making malicious remarks on Twitter

The 18-year-old allegedly posted an offensive tweet about MH17 victims

Newcastle United fans John Alder, 63, and Liam Sweeney, 28 died in crash

298 people died when Malaysia Airlines plane came down in Ukraine



A man has been charged with posting an offensive tweet about two Newcastle United fans who died in the MH17 plane disaster.

Mitchell Tace Chapman, 18, of Sunderland, has been charged with making a malicious communication, which Northumbria Police said was in connection to ‘remarks posted on Twitter relating to two of the men who died’ on flight MH17.

It is understood the two men were Newcastle United football fans John Alder, 63, and Liam Sweeney, 28, who were flying to New Zealand to watch their team play pre-season friendlies.

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Chapman's offensive remark on Twitter is believed to have been in relation to Newcastle United fans John Alder, 63, (left) and Liam Sweeney, 28, (right) who died when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17



More than £30,000 has been raised by both Newcastle United fans and Sunderland fans for tributes to Mr Alder and Mr Sweeney. Pictured: One tribute left to the men outside St James Park in the wake of the MH17 crash

They were killed along with 298 others when the Malaysia Airlines plane came down over eastern Ukraine.

Chapman will appear before magistrates in Sunderland on August 11.

An online fundraising page set up in memory of Mr Alder and Mr Sweeney has raised more than £30,000.