Approximately a week ago, a sensitive video began circulating online, asserting that white individuals or French citizens were killed and women were raped by Muslim refugees living legally or illegally in France. The video was circulated worldwide by people who hate a particular community, in India the video was primarily circulated by the right-wing accounts. They took jibe that in France there is no presence of BJP or the RSS but still, there is violence and riots done by a particular community, referring to the Muslim community here.
However, upon thorough investigation, it has been determined that this video does not represent recent events nor is it a portrayal of any contemporary occurrences. The video in question is an outdated representation of the tragic incident that took place in Nice City, France, on Bastille Day, July 14, 2016. During the Bastille Day celebrations, a high-speed truck deliberately plowed into a crowded area, specifically the Nice Beach, where citizens had gathered to celebrate their special day by enjoying the fireworks.
Reports and investigations indicate that the ‘terror’ kind of attack was pre-plotted, aimed at targeting innocent individuals who were celebrating Bastille Day. The perpetrator, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian Muslim man and resident of France, drove the truck into the crowd, causing chaos and devastation. The incident concluded with police intervention, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which the perpetrator was shot and killed. This horrific act resulted in the loss of at least 80 lives.
It is important to highlight that the video in circulation is a representation of past events, not reflective of recent developments or violence in France. By incorrectly associating the video with ongoing violence and fabricating connections to a particular community, certain individuals seek to advance a pre-existing agenda and propagate misleading narratives. The circulation of old videos must be done to exploit the social fabric of France.
By perpetuating false claims, some self-proclaimed outlets and individuals seem to aim at sowing discord and disharmony among different communities. After conducting an extensive and thorough analysis, our team engaged in fact-checking the claim. You can find the results of this investigation in the Twitter thread embedded below for your reference. While conducting the investigation we also found several news articles such as @timer.ge (NEWS ARTICLE) covering the horrific incident, for one’s own better understanding one can refer to it.
CLAIM: French Citizens were killed and raped by Muslim Refugees during the recent France violence.
FACT: Misleading, old video was shared in the pretext of fresh violence in France.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
