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What has been clearly a hoax is that the Embassy sent scientific/medical warnings, which are now circulating all over the social media, such as:
"It's a dropped bomb with depleted uranium (red color). Tell all your loved ones to get away and don't inhale. Try to go in the opposite direction of the wind."
Truth is getting mixed with the fake news. Whether it was a bomb is a very legitimate question. But the Canadian Embassy definitely did not claim on its social media, that it was.
There is an "urgent message" from AUBMC (American University of Beirut Medical Center), the most prestigious medical facility in the Middle East. It even carries its logo at the top of the page. But when I contacted AUBMC, the staff strongly denied sending such messages:
"Everyone in Lebanon needs to stay indoor" From the look of the flame, the explosion looks nitric acid-based. PLEASE STAY INSIDE!!!"
There is a long message from AUB president, however, which begins with:
"Dear members of the AUB community, I hope you and your loved-ones are safe and starting to recover from the catastrophic explosion which occurred earlier this evening in the Port of Beirut. We already know of thousands of injured and more than 67 dead. Property has been destroyed over an area of many square kilometers, including at AUB and AUBMC. Our hearts and our prayers are with all those injured or lost in this awful tragedy. We must do all we can, and some measure beyond that, to care for those injured and heal the terrible unseen wounds this has created. The AUBMC Emergency Department, our medical faculty, nurses and staff are all responding to hundreds of trauma cases, including a number of serious and critical cases, with great skill and professionalism--
Why are rumors being spread? Who is benefiting? What are the plans?
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