On June 27th, a tragic incident occurred near Paris, where the French police shot 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk after he failed to comply with their orders. A bystander captured the incident on video, which showed two officers standing by the driver’s side of the car. Despite not facing an immediate threat, one officer discharged his gun at the driver. This news quickly spread, leading to violent protests throughout the country. Various videos and images circulated on social media, claiming to be related to the recent protests.
Claim 1: Police Brutality
A 55-second clip of French police assaulting civilians has gone viral on social media. Users claim that the clip is from the recent protests in the country. However, the video appears to be a compilation of different clips. User Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) shared the video on July 6th, suggesting its connection to the recent riots. It received significant views and retweets. It’s worth noting that @MeghUpdates frequently spreads misinformation on Twitter. Similar claims were made by other users, including @TheAbhishek_IND, @team_hyv, @Amberological, and @ajaychauhan41, who is known for sharing misinformation as well.
Fact Check:
Upon analyzing the video and conducting a reverse image search, we found that it was originally shared on Twitter in April 2023. The video circulated back then, highlighting the mistreatment of women by French police. Therefore, it is evident that these video clips are unrelated to the recent protests that began after Nahel M’s death in June.
Claim 2: Upscale Stores Looted
During the protests in France, reports emerged of high-end stores being looted. Two videos showing mobs looting an Apple store and a Louis Vuitton store circulated on social media, with claims that they were recent incidents related to the unrest in France.
Fact Check:
Reviewing the video shared by Twitter user Manishhh (@Manishkumarsah1), we discovered a comment made by @PRGuy17, stating that the video is five years old and from 2018. Further investigation led us to a news report from December 2018, which confirmed that riots had occurred in an Apple store in Bordeaux, France, during the ‘yellow vest’ protests. Therefore, the viral clip does not depict the recent looting in an Apple store in France, although an Apple store in Strasbourg was indeed vandalized and looted.
Regarding the Louis Vuitton store video shared by Twitter user JAWAN.. (@cyrlreg) and Wokeflix (@wokeflix_), a reverse image search revealed that the clip was originally shared on May 30, 2020, showing the looting of a Louis Vuitton store in Portland, United States. Journalist Sergio Olmos clarified that the video was from Portland, not France. Hence, this viral video is also unrelated to the recent protests in France.
Claim 3: Dramatic Image of Fire with Eiffel Tower in Background
An image of a fire near the Eiffel Tower in Paris is circulating on social media, falsely claiming it to be from the recent protests in France.
Fact Check:
We conducted a reverse image search on the image and found no evidence of it in any news reports. Upon further examination, several discrepancies were noticed, such as people casually standing in the fire and inconsistencies in lighting. Therefore, this image does not depict the recent protests in France and may be manipulated or unrelated.
In conclusion, it is crucial to verify information before sharing it on social media. Misinformation can easily spread, causing confusion and further escalating tensions. Fact-checking and relying on credible sources are essential to maintain an accurate understanding of events.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Aisha Patel is a dedicated Indian correspondent with a deep understanding of the nation’s diverse affairs. With a background in Indian culture, politics, and current events, she provides in-depth analysis and timely reporting on domestic issues within India.
