In the era of social media, where information spreads like wildfire, it is crucial to differentiate between fact and fiction. Recently, an image went viral on various platforms, depicting civilians hanging onto a police van in France riots, accompanied by claims that it was captured during the #FranceRiots2023. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that the image was extracted from a movie clip of the Netflix series “ATHENA” available on YouTube. This incident serves as a reminder to verify the authenticity of viral content before drawing conclusions. Let us delve into the details of this misleading image and understand the context.

The Viral Image:

France welcomed “peaceful” Middle East immigrants into their country.

Now, that 9% of the population is wrecking havoc on their cities, even after their Defense Minister deployed 45,000 police in a loose attempt to restore order.

Riots have now begun in Italy, Belgium, and… pic.twitter.com/72L4iiJXZv

— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) July 1, 2023

The image in question portrays individuals clinging to a police van while riding inside it. It was widely circulated on social media platforms, particularly Twitter, with accompanying claims suggesting that it was captured during the recent riots in France. The intention behind these posts was to mislead viewers and create sensationalism around the ongoing unrest.

Source of the Image:

Upon conducting a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the viral image was not related to the #FranceRiots2023 or any real-world event. The image was taken from a scene in the Netflix series “ATHENA,” and the clip can be found on YouTube [1]. By taking a closer look at the frame and comparing it to the original footage, it becomes evident that the image has been extracted from a fictional scenario, devoid of any connection to the actual riots in France.

Debunking the Misinformation:

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ANALYSIS:Fake

FACT: An image has gone viral on social media showing civilians riding in a police vehicle while some of them are hanging on the door of the van.The image has been shared with claim that rioters in France captured a police van during the #FranceRiots2023.(1/2) pic.twitter.com/j7xbJaTK0g

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) July 5, 2023

To counter the spread of misinformation, our fact-checking platform examined the viral image and debunked its claims. They found that the image was, indeed, from the Netflix series “ATHENA” and had no correlation to the France riots . Here is the evidence by linking the original clip on YouTube, proving that the image was taken out of context.

Conclusion:

The viral image depicting civilians hanging onto a police van in France riots during the #FranceRiots2023 has been proven false. It was revealed to be a scene from the Netflix series “ATHENA” and not an actual event from the ongoing riots in France. This incident serves as a stark reminder to exercise caution when consuming and sharing content on social media platforms. Verifying the authenticity of images and information is crucial to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure that factual accuracy is maintained. Let us remember the importance of responsible online behavior and critical thinking to safeguard ourselves and others from falling victim to misleading narratives.

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