Video of Migrants’ Attacks on the Poland-Belarus Border Is Outdated
The Claim
A recent video shows migrants attacking the Poland-Belarus border.
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Emerging story
Recently, social media users circulated a video clip purporting to show migrants' attacks on the border from the Belarusian side.
The publishers attributed the video's publication to the Polish Defense Ministry. X users shared the video along with the following statement that they attributed to the Ministry: "Attacks on the Polish border carried out by Belarus were aimed at destabilizing the situation in Poland and endangering the safety of Poles. Thanks to the increased presence of the Polish army on the border, the plan of Russia and Belarus failed."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating footage and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the video making the rounds to be outdated.
The Video Displays Migrants at the Poland-Belarus Border in 2021
Contrary to the viral claim, the video in question is not recent. The original video can be traced back to November 2021.
A Dutch website released the video on November 8, 2021, showing the flow of migrants at the border between Poland and Belarus.
The video’s description stated that several reputable sources on Twitter and Telegram have also shared images portraying a group of migrants approaching the Polish border, closely monitored by Belarusian security forces. These visuals were captured in the vicinity of the Bruzgi border crossing.
Furthermore, the Polish Ministry of Defense's X account published the video on November 8, 2021, showing an attempt by migrants to cross the Polish border through the Kuznica-Bruzgi border crossing between Belarus and Poland.
Clashes on the Poland-Belarus Border
On November 8, 2021, there were heightened security disruptions in the vicinity of the Kuznica-Bruzgi border crossing on the Belarus-Poland border. This followed clashes between Polish security forces and numerous migrants who were trying to enter Poland.
Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller stated that there are presently between 3,000 to 4,000 migrants near the border, and an additional 10,000 migrants are located across Belarus, prepared to attempt to cross into Poland.
In response to this situation, Warsaw has mobilized extra soldiers, border guards, and police forces. Meanwhile, neighboring Lithuania has indicated that it might consider declaring a state of emergency along its border with Belarus.
Polish border guards were said to have employed tear gas to scatter migrants attempting to cross into the country. Both Belarusian and Polish authorities had closed the Kuznica-Bruzgi border crossing, which had been the primary location for migrants attempting to enter Poland.
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