Weekly Wrap: Misinformation Around Bondi Beach Attack, Messi’s India Tour & More

From misinformation around the deadly mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach on December 14 to false claims around Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour’ to India, read our top fact checks from this week:

Bondi Beach Shooting: Here Is A Fact-Check Of Social Media Posts Identifying ‘Hero’ Who Disarmed Sydney Gunman

Shortly after the Bondi Beach attack, footage of a civilian bravely tackling and disarming one of the shooters before pointing the gun at him began circulating widely online. While the man was widely hailed as a hero, Newschecker found that several social media posts also falsely identified him as Edward Crabtree. He was later later identified as Ahmed Al Ahmed, while we traced the viral name, “Edward Crabtree,” to an article uploaded on a dubious website.

Viral ‘Document’ Showing 163 IAF Pilots Resigned After 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict Is Doctored

A purported RTI document went viral, allegedly revealing that 163 Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots resigned from the force following the India-Pakistan conflict of May 2025. Newschecker found the viral claim to be based on a manipulated image and misrepresented RTI data, and that no evidence supports the assertion that 163 IAF pilots resigned following the India-Pakistan conflict of May 2025.

This Viral Video Of Bride Meeting Ex-Boyfriend Before Wedding Is Staged

The internet went abuzz over a highly emotional video, purportedly showing a bride in a red lehenga arriving in a car to meet her ex-boyfriend, just two hours before her wedding rituals. Newschecker found it to be a scripted reel created by digital content creator Aarav Mavi.

Bondi Beach Attack: Has Philippines Declared Indian Embassy Official Persona Non Grata?

Social media posts, primarily shared by Pakistan-based accounts, claimed that the Philippines declared an Indian embassy official, Nilesh Kumar Rai, persona non grata and directed him to leave the country within 48 hours following the recent Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, Australia. Newschecker found that there was no official confirmation from the Philippines government, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs categorically denied the claim.

Viral Photo Of Messi With Tendulkar, Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit At Marine Drive Is AI-Generated

Several social media users shared a photo, claiming to show Argentine football star Lionel Messi with four Indian cricketing legends, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, at Marine Drive in Mumbai, during his recent ‘GOAT’ tour. Newschecker found the photo to be AI-generated.