A weekly round-up of bogus reports and phony facts in the mainstream and social media.
1. Al-Qunfudah airfield works still ongoing
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority has denied social media rumors that the project to establish Al-Qunfudah airport has been canceled, Sabq reported.
The authority’s spokesperson told the Saudi newspaper that the airport project “is ongoing, and is currently in the technical procedures phase, to complete the measures for appointing the project’s supervision consultant.”
Al-Qunfudah, in the Makkah region, will be Saudi Arabia’s 28th airport.
2. Egypt rumors put to rest
A security source in Egypt’s governorate of Sharqia has denied rumors of finding the body of a child “slaughtered” in what was feared to be part of an organ-trade ring.
The source, quoted in a report by news website Masrawy, said such fake news spreads fear among residents.
A number of news websites had showed a picture of a 13-year-old child, claiming he was found “slaughtered” and that “his organs were taken away.”
Measures will be taken against those who promoted such news on social media, the security source added.