Claims that a cargo ship arriving in Greece containing aid for refugees actually carried guns and ammunition is spreading across the Internet, and there has been a “media blackout” on the story.
The Haddad 1, pictured below, according to many reports surfacing on the Internet, arrived in Greece in early September with aid for the many fleeing refugees heading for Europe, but that aid actually turned out to be guns and ammunition.
But the story omits some important details to fit the trending right-wing narrative that claims religious extremists, possibly ISIS, are infiltrating Europe disguising themselves as refugees. (For example, we reported on this photo earlier.)
Yes the ship is real and yes it was carrying guns. However a few facts…
The ship wasn’t heading to Greece, or even Europe. It arrived in Greece only because it was intercepted by the Greek coastguard. Reports show that it was heading to Libya from Turkey, and there is no evidence that it was heading for extremists posing as refugees either in Libya or in Europe.
There are no reports that the ship had disguised itself as transporting aid for refugees either in Europe or those heading there.
There isn’t a media blackout on the story. In fact here is the story on The Independent.
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That Independent report claims the Turkish government have said the guns were destined for the Sudanese police force. Many have speculated it was heading to extremists fighting in the region. Greek authorities are investigating the cargo ship.
Either way, it wasn’t heading to refugees in Europe.
