Viral Image Showing Iranian Police HQ On Fire After Israeli Attack Is Old

Photo shows the Iranian Police HQ in Tehran on fire following a recent strike by the Israeli forces.  

Such posts can be seen here and here.

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A Google Lens search on the viral photo led us to a Facebook post by news outlet Iran International, dated May 9, 2020. Carrying a video showing the same structure engulfed in flames, it stated, “The dome of the “Malek Ashtar” mosque, which belongs to the NAJA headquarters, caught fire. According to reports, the fire occurred following an insulation operation of the building. It is said that no one was injured in the incident (translated from Persian via Google).”

We also found an X post by BBC Persian from May 2020 carrying similar visuals as seen in the viral photo, and corroborated, “the dome of the Malek Ashtar Mosque, located at the headquarters of the National Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (NAJA) in Tehran, has caught fire. Iranian media have attributed the fire to negligence in insulation work, saying that firefighters have arrived at the scene and that no human casualties have been reported ( translated from Persian via Google).”

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A report by Anadolu Agency, dated May 9, 2020, stated, “Jalal Maleki, spokesman for the Tehran Municipality Fire and Safety Services Organization, said, “The fire incident occurred in the Vanak area and firefighters were dispatched to the scene with water tankers and rescue mattresses…”” 

“A number of workers were working on insulation work on the roof of the two-story mosque and in the dome area, when due to carelessness, the outer part of the dome caught fire,” he reportedly added.

Newschecker also reached out to Fateme Karimkhan, an Iran-based journalist and fact checker, who confirmed to us that the photo does not show any recent incident. 

The area near the police headquarters in Tehran was reportedly hit in an Israeli strike on June 18. “Some buildings around the headquarters of the National Police were attacked, and a number of our colleagues were injured,” the official IRNA news agency reportedly stated citing a police statement. 

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Hence, we find that an old photo has been falsely shared to show the Iranian police HQ on fire following an Israeli attack during the current crisis in the Middle East.

Sources
Facebook Post By Iran International, Dated May 9, 2020
X Post By BBC Persian, Dated May 9, 2020
Report By Anadolu Agency, Dated May 9, 2020
Conversation With Iranian Journalist Fateme Karimkhan

(With inputs from Runjay Kumar of Newschecker Hindi.)