Fact Check: Video from Mexico falsely shared as pro-Hamas protestors attacking cops in London

Hyderabad: A video of a man setting a policeman on fire is going viral on social media with the claim that it shows pro-Hamas protestors trying to kill an on-duty London Metropolitan Police officer in London.

An X user shared the video (disturbing content: viewer discretion advised) with the caption, “Islamic State of United Kingdom. Anti Israel Anti Semitic Pro Hamas Pro terrorrism protestors burn a London Metropolitan Police officer on duty in London. Violent muslim mob was chanting scary slogans of ‘K!ll All Jews’ ‘We want Sharia Law in England’ ‘K!ll All Infidels’. (sic)”Several X users shared the video claiming the same.

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Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the video was from Mexico in 2020.

Upon a reverse image search of the video’s keyframe, we found it on YouTube, published by a verified channel of The Telegraph on June 5, 2020, titled ‘Police officer set on fire during protests in Mexico.’

According to the channel, the incident took place in the city of Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco in Mexico. It shows a protestor setting fire to a police officer during demonstrations over the death of a man in police custody in Mexico.

We also found the video published by the verified YouTube channels of On Demand News and Wion in June 2020. Both media outlets reported that a police officer was set on fire by a protestor during a protest against alleged police brutality in Mexico.

Daily Mail also reported the incident on June 5, 2020. It mentioned that the incident took place after a man died from beatings in police custody in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in Mexico.

Hence, we conclude that the video is from Mexico and does not show pro-Hamas protestors burning a police officer on duty in London. The claim is false.