JEDDAH, 18 September — The Internet has become the primary method for the distribution of hoaxes relating to the investigation into the US terrorist attacks. Yesterday an e-mail circulated which read that:
“CNN’s mission to present the Palestinians in the worst possible light has sunk to its lowest low with CNN’s apparent use of footage from 1991 and claiming the images to be those of Palestinians cheering the WTC carnage.”
The e-mail was supposed to be based on information from a journalist at The Nation and from a student named Marcio A. V. Carvalho at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil. Supposedly Carvalho had been the one who compared the videotape from Sept. 11 with the footage from 1991 and found them to be identical.
When asked for a confirmation of the authenticity of the Sept. 11 tape, Eason Jordan, president, CNN global newsgathering made the following statement:
“We understand there is a suggestion being circulated via e-mail and on websites that recent videotape that aired on CNN of Palestinians supposedly dancing in the streets of a West Bank town is identical to videotape from 1991. CNN refutes this entirely. In the midst of these dreadful events it is highly regrettable to find people using the tool of e-mail irresponsibly to spread false information to further their own agendas.”
Jordan said that the footage had been shot by a Reuters camera crew and gave their contact details.
He then presented a faxed statement from UNICAMP denying any information about the tape was provided by Carvalho. UNICAMP claimed that Carvalho’s “domain was attacked by a hacker and several e-mails were sent out on his behalf.” Those e-mails have now spread worldwide.
