The claim
A widely circulated video shows a group of migrants allegedly walking on a road in Spain.
Our conclusion
This claim is false. The photo actually comes from Morocco.
The video, which shows a crowd of people on a mountain road, was dated “June 18.” November 2023” and the location “Spain” were shared on several platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, 9Gag, TikTok, YouTube and X (Twitter).
On Facebook in particular, it was forwarded over 6,000 times. Users made racist comments and spoke of an “invasion” of Europe.
Geolocation and linguistic evidence
Using satellite images and local photographs, AFP managed to identify the actual shooting location in Morocco, near the Spanish city of Ceuta.
Further indications of the actual origin of the video were the Moroccan dialect of the Arabic language and the Moroccan license plates on the cars.
Origin of the migrant video
A longer version was posted by Spanish journalist Rubén Pulido , suggesting that the video must have been made before November 18th.
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He also gives a location here:
"More than 1,000 illegal immigrants are moving from Mount Musa towards the fences of Ceuta and about 700 are trying to enter Spanish territory."
Reactions from experts and media
Caminando Fronteras' Antonio Bonachera and PorCausa's Gonzalo Fanjul independently confirmed in emails to AFP that the footage came from Morocco. The geographical proximity of the recording location to Mount Jbel Musa and Ceuta as well as the course of the N16 road were cited as further evidence.
The French newspaper “Le Monde” reported that on November 17th and 18th, thousands of people tried to cross the border from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Conclusion
The video was proven to have been recorded in Morocco and shows the movement of migrants near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The erroneous claim that it was recorded in Spain has been refuted by thorough investigations by AFP .
This article was made possible by the combined strength of our community power in the Mimikama forum! A big thank you to all Mimikamas involved. You can find out how we arrived at these findings HERE .
Source: AFP
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