Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attacked by fellow MPs in the parliament.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Fact
A keyword search for “Benjamin Netanyahu,” “attack” and “Parliament” on Google did not yield any credible reports stating that such an incident had taken place.
We then looked up the keyframes of the viral video on Google lens which led us to a YouTube post by @OnDemandNew, dated January 19, 2013. Carrying the same video, it stated, “A man pointed a gun at the leader of Bulgaria’s ethnic Turkish party, Ahmed Dogan, before being tackled to the ground and beaten by security guards.”
The video was also shared by AP in January 2013, stating, “Bulgarian police detained a man after he pointed a gas pistol at a Turkish minority party leader as he was delivering a speech at a party caucus in the capital Sofia on Saturday. No shots were fired.”
A report by The Guardian on the incident identified the gunman as one ‘Oktai Enimehmedov.’ “Police now say Enimehmedov was holding a gas pistol that was loaded with pepper spray, with two other “bullets” being simply noisemakers. He pointed the gun at Dogan’s head during a party congress in the capital, Sofia, but failed to shoot…Enimehmedov, an ethnic Turk, reportedly left a note at his home addressed to his mother, saying he had no intention of killing the party leader but simply wanted to show him he was not “untouchable”,” the report stated.
Multiple other outlets such as this, this and this reported on the incident.
Hence, a snippet showing Netanyahu on a podium has been switched with an old video of an attack on a Bulgarian leader in 2013 to falsely claim that the Israeli PM was thrashed in the Parliament.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By @OnDemandNew, Dated January 19, 2013
YouTube Video By AP, Dated January 19, 2013
Report By The Guardian, Dated January 20, 2013
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
