A video of two people setting a bus on fire falsely claimed to involve a Pakistan-origin Muslim migrant in London, actually depicts an incident from July 2024 in Harehills, Leeds. The unrest followed reports that local children were taken by social services, sparking violent protests, including arson. The individual seen setting the bus on fire was identified as Iustin Dobre, with no ties to the Muslim community or Pakistan. Dobre, Mark Mitchell, and Milan Zamostny were convicted of arson and violent disorder in August 2024, with sentences handed down in October 2024.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) serial fake news peddler and propagandist account @RealBababanaras wrote, “Pakistan origin Muslim migrant caught on camera trying to burn a bus in London. They destroy the country which gives them shelter.”
Pakistan origin Muslim migrant caught on camera trying to burn a bus in London. They destroy the country which gives them shelter. pic.twitter.com/5znHTFQGHq
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) January 30, 2025
Another propaganda account @FrontalForce also shared the video and wrote. “Pakistan origin Muslim migrant caught on camera trying to burn a bus in London. They destroy the country which gives them shelter.”
Pakistan origin Muslim migrant caught on camera trying to burn a bus in London. They destroy the country which gives them shelter. pic.twitter.com/uie2jBvBJd
— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) January 30, 2025
The truth about the viral video of individuals setting a bus on fire, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video. We found that the video was old and unrelated to any Pakistani Muslims.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to several media reports regarding the incident. According to the reports (1, 2) and police sources, the video is from an incident that occurred in July 2024, in Harehills, Leeds. The unrest erupted after children from a local family were reportedly taken away by social services, leading to violent protests, including the overturning of a patrol car and the arson of a bus, forcing passengers to flee.
The individual seen setting the bus on fire in the video was identified as Iustin Dobre, indicating he has no connection to the Muslim community or Pakistan. Alongside Dobre, Mark Mitchell and Milan Zamostny were also involved in the incident. All three pleaded guilty to charges of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered in August 2024.
Additionally, In October 2024, Iustin Dobre and Mark Mitchell were jailed for six years and Milan Zamostny was sentenced to five years and four months after admitting violent disorder and aggravated arson at Leeds Crown Court. Therefore, the video was old and unrelated to Pakistan-origin Muslims.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) January 31, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing two individuals setting a bus on fire during unrest is being shared with the false claim that it depicts a Pakistan-origin Muslim migrant attempting to burn a bus in London. The video is from an old incident, (1/5) pic.twitter.com/ROKZfyRR3H
Intent
Influencers and propagandists are circulating old videos from the UK with misleading claims to get the spotlight on social media.
Conclusion
Claim– Pakistan origin Muslim migrant caught on camera trying to burn a bus in London.
Fact– This is an old video from Leeds, the accused was identified as Iustin Dobre. The incident occurred during the mob violence in July 2024 in Harehills, Leeds.
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