FAKE NEWS!
BBC forced to deny reporting nuclear war outbreak between Russia and NATO after fake news video goes viral
THE BBC has been forced to deny it reported the outbreak of World War Three last night after a fake news clip went viral.
Staged footage shows a presenter, who appears to be in a BBC new studio, claim Russia launched a thermonuclear strike on targets across Europe after one of their jets were shot down by NATO forces.
5
The report is then interrupted by what is claimed to be an Emergency Broadcast by the government claiming the UK is under nuclear attack.
But the three-minute clip is entirely fake and is the work of an Irish firm.
It is being used for psychometric testing.
The corporation said: “This video clip claiming to be a BBC news report about NATO and Russia has been circulating widely...
"We'd like to make absolutely clear that it's a fake and does not come from the BBC.”
The fake report shows scenes of of Russian naval ships launching cruise missiles, nuclear mushroom clouds, and even shows the Queen being evacuated from Buckingham Palace.
5
5
5
It is an edited version of an hour-long film that was first uploaded to YouTube in 2016 - with the disclaimer that it was a “fictional dramatisation”.
It began widely circulating on social media, particularly WhatsApp, after it was edited and re-uploaded to YouTube on Monday without that disclaimer.
Actor Mark Ryes who plays the role of presenter in the clip told BBC News: "It was created by a company called Benchmarking Assessment Group as a psychometric test for their clients to see how they'd react in a disaster scenario.
"On the original YouTube posting it says very clearly that it's fictional. It doesn't even look like a genuine BBC News report. It was never meant to.
5
"As an actor playing this role, I recorded the video against a green screen. I had no part in the editing or production of the final piece."
It comes as fears of a new global conflict are rising as tensions between the US and Russia over Syria boil over.
On Facebook, one user, Anas Muhammed Ibrahim from Nigeria, shared the video with the comment: “get somewhere safe too WWIII has started.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
Derryck Griffith from New York wrote on Facebook: “If this is indeed the case, then we are facing another potentially Global War with Russia,” before adding “none of the other Global TV stations are reporting this information. Therefore, I presume it may be false.”
Here's our guide on what to do if World War 3 does break out.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics