A video posted online appears to show demonstrators bombing the Israeli embassy in Manama, Bahrain, with an incendiary bomb in October 2023.
On October 19, 2023, as the war between Israel and Gaza continued to unfold, multiple X users posted a video showing protesters bombing the Israeli embassy in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, with an incendiary bomb. He claimed that there was.
For example, one French post translated into English read: “Breaking news: The Israeli embassy in Bahrain was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail tonight.”
🔴⚡️URGENT: Cocktail Molotov Cocktail Jet Flare at Israeli Embassy in Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/NAu9Y4DVcg
— Le Rifain La Nouvelle du Front (@rifain_nouvelle) October 19, 2023
However, this video was actually made about 11 years ago. Nor did it have anything to do with the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza. Additionally, Israel did not open an embassy in Manama until September 2021, according to the Associated Press and the embassy’s official website.
The video showed protesters throwing petrol bombs at a police station in Bahrain’s Sitra village, as Reuters, Lead Stories and other fact-checking journalists reported on the same rumors.
Our investigation found multiple previous reports and videos depicting protesters throwing petrol bombs at the Citra police station. It is unclear when exactly the video in question was recorded, but the incident caught on camera may have occurred in August or November 2012.
For example, on August 25, 2012, more than 100 demonstrators attacked a police station in Sitra, causing some damage to the building. According to the website 24/7 News, a police officer also suffered minor injuries.
A few weeks later, on October 1, the Qatari newspaper The Peninsula cited a report from Bahrain News Agency (BNA) and reported on the incident, saying, “32 people will stand trial in Bahrain for the attack on the police center.” Ta. The article also explains why the protests were occurring at the time.
DUBAI: Thirty-two people will go on trial in Bahrain for attacking a police center in the Shiite village of Sitra, state news agency BNA reported yesterday.
“The public prosecutor’s office has concluded the investigation into the terrorist attack on the Sitra police center, which involved the use of Molotov cocktails and arson,” BNA quoted Deputy Attorney General Mohamed Al Dosari as saying.
…
Sporadic protests have intensified since a March 2011 crackdown ended a month of protests in central Manama demanding democratic reforms.
A month later, on November 5, United Press International (UPI) reported that the police station had been attacked again.
SITRA, Bahrain, Nov. 5 (UPI) — Witnesses say about 60 masked youths caused property damage in several Bahrain towns after the government banned gatherings and public gatherings. Stated.
The attackers were in Bilad al-Kadeem, Juffair, Dai, Aali, Ras Rouman, Karzakan, Sitra, Nuweidrat, Jid Ali, Sehra, Saar and Toubli, Gulf News reported on Monday.
Witnesses said some youths threw petrol bombs at Sitra police station around 1 a.m. Monday.
Another attack on a police station occurred in broad daylight in February 2012, according to a YouTube video published the same month.
We contacted the embassy in Manama and asked some questions about the reported evacuation situation regarding Israel and the war in Gaza. We will update this article as more details become available.
source of information
“32-sided trial over police center attack in Bahrain.” The PeninsulaOctober 1, 2012, https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/01/10/2012/32-face-trial-in-bahrain-for- Attack-on-police-centre.
Amri, Saeed. “Evacuation of the embassies of Israel, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco: Israel Broadcasting Corporation” anadolu agencyOctober 19, 2023, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-evacuates-embassies-in-bahrain-jordan-morocco-israeli-broadcasting-authority/3026522.
“Bahrain thwarts terrorist attack on police station.” 24/7 newsAugust 26, 2012, https://www.twentyfoursevennews.com/2012/08/bahrain-foils-terror-attach-on-police-station/.
“Fact check: Video shows 2012 attack on Bahraini police station, not Israeli embassy.” ReutersOctober 20, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/video-shows-2012-Attack-police-station-bahrain-not-israel-embassy-2023-10-20/.
“FM Lapid’s first official visit to Bahrain” Israel Mission Around the WorldSeptember 30, 2021, http://embassies.gov.il/Manama/NewsAndEvents/Pages/FM-Lapid-on-first-official-visit-to-Bahrain.aspx.
Friends from Bahrain. “Mobs attack police station in Sitra, Bahrain.” YouTubeFebruary 20, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbBi4qWO2hc.
@JamalsNews. “The video claiming an attack on the Israeli embassy in Bahrain is fake. This is actually a video of an attack on a police station in Manama in 2012.” X (old Twitter)October 19, 2023, https://twitter.com/JamalsNews/status/1715118544818409572.
Kenyon, Peter. “One year after the revolution, tensions rise in Bahrain.” NPRFebruary 10, 2012, https://www.npr.org/2012/02/10/146709345/a-year-after-revolution-tensions-rising-in-bahrain.
Thompson, Sarah. “Fact check: The video does not show the Israeli embassy in Bahrain on fire. This was the attack on the Sitra police station in 2012.” lead storyOctober 20, 2023, https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/10/fact-check-video-does-not-show-israeli-embassy-in-bahrain-on-fire-its- a -2012-Attack on Citra Police Station.html.
“Violent youth are taking a toll on Bahrain’s towns.” UPINovember 5, 2012, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/11/05/Street-violence-damages-Bahrain-towns/11561352119461/.
Zion, Elon Ben. “Bahrain and Israel cement 1-year agreement, new embassy opened.” Associated PressSeptember 30, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-israel-tel-aviv-bahrain-ee71e9ee0d7714ef1769afa8a6ebae34.