The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20200921123622/https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/christchurch-shooting-was-a-false-flag-operation/

Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: Christchurch shooting was a false flag operation

Summary

The Christchurch shooting was a false flag operation with the purpose of restricting gun laws in New Zealand.

Disproof

This claim is a conspiracy theory(opens in a new tab) presented without any evidence. Alleging false flag operations(opens in a new tab) is a common tactic of pro-Kremlin disinformation.

The Christchurch shooter(opens in a new tab), a man named Brenton Tarrant, was a white supremacist who espoused racist and anti-immigrant views, which were detailed in a manifesto that he sent to numerous people just a few minutes before the shooting. His attack had ideological motives(opens in a new tab) and there is no evidence to support the conspiracy theory that he is somehow linked to the New Zealand government or to any other government.

For more cases about the Christchurch shooting, see here(opens in a new tab).

Go to search

publication/media

aeronet.cz(opens in a new tab) (Archived(opens in a new tab))
  • Reported in: Issue162
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 05/08/2019
  • Language/target audience: Czech
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Keywords: false flag, Terrorism, Conspiracy

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

see more

Twitter didn’t find any Russian effort to influence Brexit

To explain why the British voted to withdraw from the EU, attention turned once again to the role of Russian trolls. Even Twitter began investigating the case. In the end, Twitter had to inform the British parliament that it found no evidence of Russian efforts to influence the outcome of the Brexit vote.

August 21, 2019
Disproof

This is a misleading claim about the role of Russian troll activity on Twitter around the Brexit referendum. It is consistent with longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts to deny that Russia has engaged in electoral meddling, despite extensive proof to the contrary(opens in a new tab).

Twitter was initially criticised(opens in a new tab) for its failure to provide an adequate response to the parliamentary committee seeking answers about Russian disinformation operations during Brexit. This did not mean that no evidence had been found of Russian efforts to influence the vote. In early 2018, Twitter admitted that Russian trolls had indeed targeted the Brexit vote (opens in a new tab)during an evidence session with British MPs, who flew to the United States to question representatives from major technology firms as part of their fake news inquiry.

Malaysia was excluded from the MH17 investigation

Malaysia was excluded from the MH17 investigation.

In Malaysia there are still loud and clear doubts in the highest government circles about the course of events presented by the JIT and those responsible for the MH17 tragedy. International concerns have already raised the question of how long Malaysia, where the crashed plane and the airline originated, was excluded from JIT investigations. The downright hateful reactions to publicly expressed doubts by Malaysian government representatives about the evidence presented by JIT are also noted with dismay in Malaysia.

August 21, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the downing of Flight MH17. (opens in a new tab)See a similar case alleging that Malaysia was sidelined here.(opens in a new tab)

Malaysia's Prosecutor's office cooperated in the investigation conducted by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team(opens in a new tab) (JIT). Speaking at the press conference of the JIT on 19 June 2019, the Deputy Prosecutor General of Malaysia, Mohamad Hanafiah bin Zakaria, reiterated(opens in a new tab) Malaysia's commitment to the JIT in seeking justice for the victims and stated that the JIT findings were based on extensive investigation and legal research [see 57:30 - 58:14].

Poland is the foundation of anti-Russian hysteria

Detente in relations between Moscow and Brussels means a potential crisis for the current Polish authorities, pursuing an anti-Russian policy. Poland is going to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. While they did not invite Russia, they sent an invitation to Germany.

Poland pursues a policy aimed at rapprochement with the US and even ignores EU players, and also exploits the theme of “potential Russian aggression’. Today, Poland is the foundation of anti-Russian hysteria.

August 20, 2019
Disproof

Poland is a frequent target of Russian propaganda, which portrays Poland as anti-Russian(opens in a new tab) and aggressive(opens in a new tab) toward Russia. This is an example of a recurring Pro-Kremlin narrative based on "Russophobia" myth(opens in a new tab). Similar cases can be found here(opens in a new tab) and here.(opens in a new tab)

The fact that Warsaw did not invite the Russian leader to celebrations was explained by the Polish leadership(opens in a new tab): "Invitations have been sent to the EU, NATO, and Eastern Partnership members, but not to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Invitations have been issued according to a contemporary, not a historical context."

don't be deceived, question even more

Share your feedback with us

DISCLAIMER

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.