Dubai Police authorities have warned people against spreading false rumours on the internet after a video of a man going up in flames went viral making a false claim that the incident took place in The Dubai Mall. Police have mentioned that spreading false news on the internet is a punishable crime and anyone found guilty can be jailed for up to three years with a fine of Dhs 250,000.
After the news created an atmosphere of tension amongst residents, police advised people in a public notice that one should not believe everything they watch on internet and look for credible news sources and should not share news without a credible source.
The 58-second video clip showed the man’s clothes going up in flames while visitors and mall security personnel were frantically searching for a fire extinguisher.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs of Dubai Police, said, “The video wasn’t in The Dubai Mall or in any mall in the emirate. There is a police post in the mall and the officers didn’t receive any alert about such an incident.” “We encourage residents not to circulate unverified information on social media. Anyone found guilty of spreading rumours and fake news can be jailed for up to three years and a fine of Dhs 250,000. Residents should always verify the news first before re-sending it to friends and spreading them on social media,” Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said. He added, “Usually some people who want to gain more followers or to be famous online know if they put Dubai’s name in any video or picture, then it will go viral.”