After Turkish media outlets reported on November 13 that an explosion rocked Istanbul's famous Istiklal street, misinformation surfaced online.
Right after the bombing that had killed at least six people and injured at least 81, footage went viral on social media, and users claimed it documents the moment of the explosion.
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The video was old and unrelated to the incident. However, it depicts a man loitering suspiciously on one of Istanbul's busiest streets before a suicide bombing killed dozens of people in 2016.
An Old Image Resurfaced
Meanwhile, other users have circulated an image claiming it shows the explosion that erupted on November 13, 2022.
The image turned out to be old and unrelated to the incident. It first appeared online a month ago, following a fire that ravaged a building in KadıKöy, killing three people.
Other videos of the blaze featuring the same building confirmed that the image predates the last explosion.
A Video of Another Terrorist Attack in Turkey
After the Istanbul explosion was identified as a terrorist attack on Istiklal Avenue, a video purportedly showing another terrorist attack in Fatih, Turkey, went viral.
Misbar's investigation found the claim misleading as the car explosion in Istanbul's Fatih district was determined to be an accident, not a terrorist attack.
The claim began to circulate after the police launched an investigation following several explosions that started a fire in Istanbul's Fatih neighborhood, causing panic.
However, after investigating the scene, the police concluded that the fire was not the result of terrorism or arson.
An Outdated Video of Protests in Turkey
Other social media users have circulated a 21-second TikTok video claiming that it depicts Turkish people protesting against the Syrian refugees in Turkey and asking the government to ensure their deportation.
“The #Turkish people protesting against #Syrian #Refugees asking the government to kick all Syrians out of the country with #racism sentences #turkey_is_not_safe,” a Twitter user wrote.
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The video is outdated and has nothing to do with the last explosion on Istiklal Avenue in Taksim.
A Google Image Reverse Search using screenshots from the footage revealed that the video is old. It was posted to YouTube in 2019 and alleged to show anti-immigration protesters smashing cars and shops in Adana, Turkey.
Our team could not find the original version of the video. However, we reviewed the car’s number and the shop’s name: “Turc Pastanesi,” on Google Maps, and found its location in Adana, Turkey.
A Terrorist Attack on Istiklal Avenue
Several shocking videos and images have surfaced online after the explosion that occurred on Istanbul's famous Istiklal street on November 13. The incident killed at least six people and left 81 others injured.
Media outlets reported that Turkish police detained a Syrian woman with suspected links to Kurdish militants.
The suspect confessed to planting a bomb, according to Turkish authorities.
The Turkish Response to the Bombing
According to news reports, at least eleven people have been killed in Syria, after an “air operation” by Turkish warplanes in northern Syria and Iraq late Saturday, November 19.
Meanwhile, a war-monitoring group raised the death toll to 65 people, according to the Financial Times.
Photo Description: A screenshot from the Financial Times report.
Photo Description: A screenshot from the CNN report.
According to Middle East Monitor, Turkey has hit 471 Kurdish targets in northern Iraq and Syria, and 254 terrorists were neutralized as part of the ongoing campaign in the area.
The Turkish new cross-border operation, called “Claw-Sword,” targets the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), PYD People’s Defense Units (YPG), and the Union of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK).
This operation came following the terrorist attack on Istiklal Avenue, which Turkish officials said Kurdish separatists were responsible for.
The Kurdish groups, however, denied any involvement in the deadly bombing.
Misbar’s Sources:
