Fact Check: Viral Videos of French Cathedrals Set Ablaze
FRANCE 24 EnglishOctober 5, 20254 min3,717 views
11 connectionsΒ·20 entities in this videoβDebunking Viral Fire Footage
- π‘ A viral video allegedly showing a church in Nantes, France, being set ablaze by Muslims has been circulating on social media.
- π― This footage is out of context and not recent, despite claims of it being a recent jihadist attack.
- π A reverse image search reveals the video dates back to July 18, 2020, when a fire did occur at the Nantes Cathedral.
- π€ The individual responsible for the 2020 fire confessed to starting three fires and was identified as a 39-year-old Rwandan asylum seeker, Emmanuel Abayisenga, who was later ruled to be not of sound mind.
Misleading Claims About Notre Dame
- β οΈ Another viral video falsely claims that Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral was recently set on fire by jihadis.
- β³ This footage actually depicts the 2019 Notre Dame fire and is being misrepresented.
- π« A separate video, purportedly showing HTS militants threatening to burn churches, has also been debunked; the individuals in the clip were imitating the group's logo.
Rise in Anti-Muslim Incidents
- π The spread of these misleading videos coincides with a reported rise in anti-Muslim hatred across several EU nations following the Gaza war.
- π France's interior ministry reported a 75% increase in anti-Muslim incidents between January and May 2025 compared to the previous year.
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Whatβs Discussed
Fact CheckIslamophobiaFranceNantes CathedralNotre Dame CathedralViral VideosMisinformationDisinformationSocial MediaJihadistsAnti-Muslim HatredGaza War
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