Only hours after the devastating explosion in Beirut the BBC had already unilaterally decided what had really happened. Without time to gather or analyse the evidence the BBC website had already been quick off the mark to decide what was or was not true.
Put onto the BBC website on 5th of August under the grandiose title “reality check” the headline written by, “Marianna Spring Specialist disinformation reporter, BBC News ” this classic piece of propaganda went on to tell us:
“Early reports of the explosion in Beirut’s port began circulating on social media moments after the blast.
Whilst most of the videos appeared authentic, filmed by residents from their homes, rumours about the cause of the blast were also quickly shared on platforms such as Twitter and WhatsApp.
So, what misinformation spread online?
From fireworks to nuclear bombs
The videos circulating showed smaller explosions and an initial fire followed by the huge blast, which led to tweets suggesting it had happened at a firework factory.
Claims about fireworks seemed plausible at the time, but other viral tweets suggested the event was caused by a nuclear bomb because of the white mushroom-like cloud seen rising in some of the footage.
A now-deleted tweet suggesting the explosion was “atomic” was shared by a verified Twitter account with over 100,000 followers and racked up thousands of shares and likes.”
It then continued with a most wonderfully Orwellian explanation of a picture by saying,
BBC SAYS
“Photographs of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing the UN General Assembly in 2018 have been posted on social media amid claims that he is pointing at the site of Tuesday’s Beirut explosion.”
Some social media users are using the images as “proof” that Israel had a hand in the blast.
BBC telling us Netanyahu is not pointing where he is pointing
The BBC article then goes on to say, ” Rumours about a possible attack picked up steam after President Trump described the event as “a terrible attack” at a White House press conference. “
Just think about that for a moment…? The BBC go on to say ” Research from the Institute for Strategic dialogue has identified his comments being shared and edited by far-right groups on social media to suggest that the blast was a terror attack or bomb. ”
If you are confused here is a summary of what Auntie beeb are telling you, “Trump said it but WE have had it analysed and he did not mean what he said.” That is the BBC Specialist disinformation reporter for you.
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