Chinese man arrested for spreading rumour about gun battle

A Chinese man has been arrested in Shanghai for allegedly spreading a rumour on social media about a deadly gun battle in the city.

After spotting police officers outside an entertainment venue, the man named Zhao set off a rumour that a gun battle had left nine people dead.

Zhao texted the false information to many people and the rumour was widely shared on social media, sate-run Xinhua news agency reported today.