What do videos tell us about purported Gaza flotilla drone attack?published at 12:22 British Summer Time
12:22 BST
Joshua Cheetham
BBC Verify journalist
Image source, XImage caption,
CCTV footage shows a fire broke out towards the front of the boat
This morning we’ve been looking at several videos following claims that a ship which is part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was hit by a projectile off the coast of Tunisia.
Tunisian authorities maintain a fire broke out in “one of the ship’s life jackets, as a result of a lighter or cigarette butt”.
But video we’ve verified shows something that looks like it’s on fire streak through the night sky towards the vessel – called Family – before hitting its deck at the bow.
As part of our analysis we’ve been in touch with several experts including David Heathcote, head of intelligence at McKenzie Intelligence Services.
“It looks like something that is already combusting is falling straight down on to the front of the ship,” he told BBC Verify.
“It could be that a drone was used to manoeuvre over the ship before the package was released on to it.”
“Regardless of the method of delivery, the impact video casts serious doubt on the Tunisian authorities’ version of events,” he adds.