Video shows policeman set alight during protest in Mexico, not at pro-Palestinian rally in London
- Published on November 10, 2023 at 09:09
- 4 min read
- By Devesh MISHRA, AFP India
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Warning: Video contains graphic footage
"BREAKING: Anti-Israel Anti-Semitic Pro terrorism protestors burn Police officers in London," reads part of the caption to a video shared here on X, formerly Twitter, on October 30, 2023.
The 14-second video, which was shared by an account with more than 75,000 followers, shows a group of people pouring a flammable liquid on a motorcycle policeman before setting him alight.
Content warning
The same video was also shared with similar claims on Facebook here and here, and on X here.
The post was shared two days after tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London calling for a ceasefire as Israel's army intensified its assault on the Gaza Strip.
Israel unleashed its bombing campaign after Hamas gunmen stormed across the Gaza border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and seizing around 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
The retaliatory aerial bombing and ground offensive has killed more than 10,800 people in Gaza, mostly civilians and many of them children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
While two protesters in London were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers during the protest march on October 28, the video being shared in social media posts was filmed in Mexico in June 2020.
There have been no reports of police officers in London being set alight by protesters, as of November 10.
Guadalajara protests
Reverse image and keyword searches on Google found a longer version of the video uploaded on the verified YouTube channel of wire agency Reuters on June 10, 2020 (archived link).
The video is titled, "Mexican police officer set on fire during protests in Guadalajara *GRAPHIC CONTENT*"
The video's description reads: "A police officer was set on fire during protests against police abuse and Justice for Giovanni in Guadalajara."
Below is the screenshot comparison of the clip shared in the false posts (left) and the video uploaded by Reuters (right):
Content warning
The same video was also uploaded to the official YouTube channel of UK newspaper The Telegraph here and to the website of Saudi Arabia-based news channel Al Arabiya here (archived links here and here).
The Al Arabiya report says this occurred during a protest over the case of Giovanni Lopez, a construction worker who died in police custody.
It quotes local media reports as saying the officer was in a stable condition in hospital after being treated for burns to his neck and left side.
Upon closer analysis of the falsely shared video, a signboard for fast-food chain McDonald's can be seen at its four-second mark. The same sign can be seen at the 27-second mark of the video shared by Reuters.
The location can be seen on Google Maps imagery of the same establishment in Guadalajara here (archived link).
Below is a screenshot comparison of the sign as seen in the false video (left) and the same location on Google Maps (right):
AFP has previously debunked other misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war here.
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