WhatsApp receives a new hoax with a false alert for terrorism
Once again the messaging application WhatsApp is used as a channel for disinformation and fear Thus, a new bulo has spread among their conversations and chats, taking advantage of the moment of tension caused by the recent attacks in Brussels It urges avoid public and crowded places where a possible attack could be suffered, informing in addition to a supposed increase in security alert levelInformation that the Ministry of the Interior has been forced to deny.
Thus, through the page of the Ministry of the Interior, as well as through the accounts of the social networks of the National Police and other bodies and State security forces, this information spread by WhatsApp has been deniedIn addition, these institutions want to prevent the propagation of this kind of hoaxes that have no foundation, and that only serve to “causing states of fear in the population and public alarm or other malicious purposes that are totally unrelated to security”, as stated in their statement. That is why they recommend not to forward this kind of information.
The message broadcast by WhatsApp states that five Police Intervention Units(UIP) would have canceled their vacations to join the protection of the city of Madrid, together with a GEO team and other units. It also comments on the increased visibility of the National Police in train stations, and urges avoid public places such as cinemas and nightclubs for fear of a possible terrorist attack. Always referring to information coming, supposedly, from some relative related to the Police.
More worrying is the confirmation of a increase in the security alert level of the National Police Corps up to value five, the maximum available. A false value that is confused with the Anti-terrorist Alert Level, which the Ministry of the Interior maintains at level 4 or high risksince last June 26 after the terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, Kuwait and Somalia.
From the Ministry of the Interior remember that any change suffered in the Anti-terrorist Alert Level would be notified to the media, to whom the population should turn to stay informed. In addition, they recall the existence of the pweb page of this public body to consult any new information of interest for the safety of citizens.
This is not the first hoax of this type that spreads through the WhatsApp chats And it looks like the channel of perfect communication to disseminate information in a massive way, even if it is false and unfounded information Faced with such problems, it is best to go to the official sources of information, being able to use the accounts of Twitter or Facebook of the National Police or the Ministry of the Interior , where they confirm or deny this information.There is also an updated web page with information regarding these hoaxes and other statements from official institutions.
