Media Check

Media outlets used old images to claim Chinese workers defending themselves with guns in Pakistan after recent bus attack

Written by Sahban

On 14 July, a bus carrying Chinese workers was attacked in Pakistan. After the attack, several Indian media outlets used two images of men in their report to claim that Chinese workers are defending themselves with AK-47.

India today wrote an article with a title that reads: “After bus blast, Chinese workers in Pakistan seen carrying AK-47 rifles”. (Archived)

(Source: India Today/Screenshot)

Republic World also used the two images in their article. The title of the article reads: “Chinese engineers carry out maintenance work at CPEC project in Pakistan”. (Archived)

(Source: Republic/Screenshot)

Wion published an article using the two images with the title that reads: “After Dasu bus blast in Pakistan, Chinese engineers working on CPEC spotted carrying AK-47 guns”. (Archived)

(Source: Wion/Screenshot)

Swarajya, International Business Times, India TV , News18 and Abp Live also used the images in their reports. The archived version of the same can be accessed here, here, here, here and here.
Many Twitter users have also shared the images with the same claim. The archived version of the tweets can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

FactO Check:

Image 1- We reverse searched the first image and the results directed us to a blog published on 5 May 2020 in the Chinese language. The blog carries the image used by the media outlets. There isn’t much description of the images, however, the first image is being described as taken when stationed abroad.

(Source: Screenshot)

Image 2- The reverse research of the second image led us to an article published by ‘3SNews’ on 30 March 2018. The article is titled “What is the experience of doing surveying in Pakistan? Come and listen to the story of Brother Back Gun”. According to the article, the man with the gun is “Yin Gong”. He is a surveyor and the image was taken in 20o6 when he was surveying and mapping in Pakistan.  

(Source: Screenshot)

Source: Screenshot


Conclusion:

We found that both the images are old. The first image is used in an article published in 2020 and the second image used in an article published in 2018. Multiple news outlets have used old images to claim that the Chinese workers armed themselves in Pakistan after the attack on the bus.

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About the author

Sahban

Specialized in media monitoring, analysis, and research associate at FactO. Email: sahbanzar@factonews.co

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