Reece Elliott in court over threats to kill US children Published duration 9 February 2013

A British man has appeared in court charged with threatening to kill 200 American schoolchildren.

Reece Elliott, 24, from South Shields, is alleged to have made the threat on Wednesday on a Facebook memorial to a Tennessee girl killed in a road crash.

A Facebook comment reportedly led to 3,000 children missing school in the Warren County area on Thursday.

Mr Elliott, of Shrewsbury Terrace, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody by South Tyneside magistrates.

During the 30 minute hearing in South Shields, Mr Elliott also faced a charge of making a malicious communication.

Northumbria Police said it was working with authorities in the United States and seeking advice as to who had jurisdiction in the incident.