Video shows man forcibly arrested during lockdown in Italy? Fact Check

ByCraig Haley

A video is spreading that purports to show Italian police arresting a man with a “leg sweep” who was violating the lockdown in the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.

FALSE

In the video (below) a police officer is seen to have his gun pointed at a suspect while another officer approaches the suspect from behind and kicks his feet out from under him, at which point the suspect is arrested. The video is typically circulated with the caption “Lockdown means lockdown in Italy.

However the video does not show someone being arrested because of a lockdown. In fact, the video isn’t from Italy


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It was taken in Sao Paulo in Brazil in March 2020. According to media reports of the incident (see an English report here) the man was intoxicated and had been threatening people with a knife. At which point the police were called, which subsequently led to the arrest.

Media reports also suggest the footage will be reviewed to see if officers at the scene had used excessive force during the arrest.

However, despite claims on social media, the video has nothing to do with either Italy or enforcing a coronavirus induced lockdown.