British TikTok Star Brooke George Charged With Murdering Man She Met in Dubai

A British social media influencer who has been detained in Dubai because of the alleged murder of a British citizen stated that she was acting in self-defense after an attack on her.

Brooke George, 23, who is originally from Kent, Gravesend, and who formerly worked in John Lewis, faces a charge of premeditated murder in the death of a 26-year-old man she met via the internet, reports the advocacy group Detained in Dubai. George is a TikTok influencer with more than 98,000 followers, reports Kent Online. Brooke George was taken into custody early June 22 and is now being held at the Bur Dubai Police Station, which is the same location where a British tourist died in custody back in 2011.

The man who is accused of being killed by Brooke George is William “Bill” Treeby, 26, who is also from Kent, reports the Daily Mail and Kent Online. Brooke met the man on Facebook prior to traveling to Dubai, reports Kent Online and The Daily Mail.

Being found guilty of the crime, Brooke George could face the death penalty via a firing squad, reports Detained in Dubai. Murderers in the United Arab Emirates can be sentenced to death in the most serious cases, reports Pulptastic, noting that the UAE claims that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial.

According to the family of the young woman, after a violent attack and having realized that her life was in danger, she took a kitchen knife and acted in self-defense.

Radha Stirling, the CEO of Detained in Dubai, is urging the release of Brooke George on bail until all details about injuries and possible exploitation are investigated.

“This case raises serious concerns about violence against women, the right to self-defense, due process, and the treatment of British nationals detained overseas,” Stirling said. “Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety. She should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation.”

Brooke George stated that her first trip to Dubai was “the time of her life”, though, according to Stirling, she was ignoring warnings about the professional photo shoot that was planned by her new partner.

During her second trip, however, the man’s behavior was reportedly changing. According to Stirling, she claimed that he started to be more controlling and abusive, and she learned that he had only booked her one-way ticket, making her want to go back home.

After spending a night at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village, the man apparently consumed alcohol and assaulted George in the car, and the assault continued back in the apartment, claims George. She told her family that she was panicking after being repeatedly beaten.

The young woman arranged a flight home with the help of friends and went back to the apartment in order to get her passport back. When she arrived there, she noticed that all her belongings were scattered and cried, pleading with him to return her passport, according to Brooke George’s family. She feared for her life and took a kitchen knife in self-defense.

Detained in Dubai, reports that a bruised and battered Brooke George tried to leave the apartment in order to escape the country, but was arrested at Dubai International Airport, having visible injuries.

“Miss George has been forced to strip naked in front of male officers, without any female officers present,” Stirling said. “This she described as humiliating and distressing, and cried when telling her family.”

According to Stirling, she had received little explanation of the proceedings due to the language barrier, and she had been prevented from contacting her embassy and speaking without a lawyer.

Mother of Brooke George, Thereza George, claims that her daughter did not look like herself on the day before the incident. She claims that Brooke George looked quite quiet and was acting differently, though she did not explain why.

“That evening, they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close,” her mother said.

“As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”

According to Stirling, there are numerous reports that women, social media stars, and tourists were lured to Dubai with promises of luxurious treatment, paid jobs, holiday, or romance, only to face such problems as forced attendance of parties, sexual abuse, coercion, violence, or other mistreatment.

“International organizations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretenses for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking,” Stirling said. “Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretenses for the purpose of exploitation.”

Their concerns were fuelled by his unexplained change in behavior, the one-way ticket, the bikini-clad professional photo shoot arranged during her first visit, and the alleged withholding of her passport.

Brooke reported seeing disturbing videos on his computer and being assaulted by him before the murder.

“We urge the UAE authorities to preserve and forensically examine all electronic devices, computers, mobile phones, online accounts, and digital communications connected with the deceased and any associates, to determine whether Brooke was targeted for exploitation and whether others may also have been victims.”

The investigation is still ongoing, and UAE authorities have not provided a detailed official version of events. The version of events is based on the information of Brooke George’s family and Detained in Dubai, and these claims have not been verified.