Old videos from 2023 riots in Paris shared as 'arson amid 2024 Olympics'

What’s the claim?

Amid recent reports of vandalism in parts of France, a collage of four videos is circulating widely on social media. These videos, shared during the ongoing Olympic Games, claim to depict recent scenes from violent demonstrations in Paris.

An X (formerly Twitter) user shared these videos with the caption: “Paris Olympics on one side and Paris burning on another side. This is the fate of every nation which is overrun by lefties and who in turn bring in peacefuls (sic).” Archived versions of these posts can be found here, here, and here.

Screenshot of claims made online. (Source: X/Modified by LogicallY Facts)

What we found

Logically Facts determined that all four videos shared in the post are old.

Video 1

The first video, which shows an aerial view of a structure engulfed in flames, dates back to June 2023. A reverse image search of keyframes led us to a news report by Maleviziotis, a local Greek network. The report, published on June 30, 2023, identified the footage as depicting the ‘Croix Blanche’ shopping mall in the Paris suburbs ablaze following riots over the police shooting of a French teenager of North African descent.

The same video was also posted on YouTube (archived here) by the channel ‘Newz 2day’ on July 2, 2023, under the title "PARIS MALL BURNS!"

Comparison showing the frame from the viral clip and the 2023 video. (Source: X/YouTube)

This confirms that the video has been online since 2023 and is not recent.

Video 2

The second video, showing a building on fire and flames spreading across the streets behind parked cars, is also from June 2023. A reverse image search led us to TRT Haber, a Turkish news network, which published the video on June 28, 2023. The report stated that these visuals were from riots following the death of a 17-year-old boy in France.

Comparison showing the viral clip and the 2023 news report. (Source: X/TRT Haber)

Video 3

The third video, featuring a fire near a building with what appears to be fireworks and a large crowd, has also been online since 2023. Although the exact source and context are unclear, a reverse image search linked the clip to a YouTube video posted by the channel “Almahdi313 Official” (archived here) on August 7, 2023. The viral clip appears at 0:47 in the video, following footage of a man speaking in Arabic.

Comparison showing the viral clip and YouTube video (Source: X/YouTube)

This evidence confirms the video has been online since 2023 and is not recent.

Video 4

The fourth video, showing an overturned car on fire in the street, is also from the June 2023 riots. We found the same footage published by the Dutch media network Destentor on June 30, 2023. The report indicated that the video depicted the aftermath of a clash between French police and rioters.

Comparison showing the viral clip and the 2023 video. (Source: X/Destentor)

The evidence indicates that these old clips from the 2023 Paris riots, following the death of Nahel Merzouk, are being recirculated as if they are recent.

Why were there riots in 2023 in France?

In June 2023, Paris saw significant unrest due to widespread protests triggered by the police killing of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old, during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. The protests led to clashes with law enforcement, property damage, and a substantial police response. This unrest was part of a broader wave of demonstrations addressing systemic issues of police violence and inequality in France.

What is happening in Paris now?

On July 26, 2024, the opening day of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, arson attacks damaged French high-speed railway lines, disrupting both international and domestic rail services and affecting around 800,000 passengers.

On July 29, the French government reported multiple acts of vandalism targeting telecommunications lines, including fiber optics and phone lines, as cities across France host events for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, French authorities have not publicly identified the attackers or their motives, nor have they confirmed any connection between the sabotage and the Olympic games, according to an AP report.

The verdict

The videos being circulated as part of the collage are all old and unrelated to the current events in Paris during the 2024 Olympics.