Not surprisingly, hashtags urging people to pray for Nice have popped up quickly following an attack that killed more than 70 in France during Bastille Day celebrations. And that’s fine; it only becomes a problem when the U.S. State Department confuses hashtags with foreign policy.
And there are the posters:
— Jenn (@JennOnAir) July 14, 2016
Est-ce que cela s'arrêtera un jour…? Soutien et Fraternité aux Niçois #ForceAuxFamilles #Nice06 pic.twitter.com/8dLkyfNYxX
— Moussa Sissoko (@MoussaSissoko) July 14, 2016
Non. ? #Nice pic.twitter.com/ukaMCHJAmZ
— ??Louison?? (@Louison_A) July 15, 2016
Celebrated British graffiti artist Banksy was quick to distribute his offering (which, as far as we can tell, might have been recycled from November’s terror attack in Paris — and that’s the sign of a serious problem).
https://twitter.com/thereaIbanksy/status/753721362909306881
The healing power of graphic design… from the same people who condemn "thoughts and prayers" as trite nonsense. @iowahawkblog
— jon gabriel (@exjon) July 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/DynamiteTom/status/753734680889946112
Speaking of terrorists, there have been conflicting reports that ISIS is responsible for the attack in Nice. Somehow, though, President Obama’s post-Orlando claim that the terror group’s morale is sinking doesn’t quite ring true — at least judging by the posters that ISIS has already started trading online.
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Jenan Moussa is a Dubai-based reporter for Arabic Al Aan TV and has been following ISIS on social media channels.
ISIS unofficial channels circulating posters celebrating #Nice attack, also showing Eiffel Tower on fire. @akhbar pic.twitter.com/VsYiaoi2xa
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 14, 2016
Just a reminder: there was a fire at the Eiffel Tower Thursday, but it was attributed to a fireworks truck that caught fire.
More posters from ISIS unofficial channels. 'Orlando was just the beginning' & threatening 'soon in Berlin'. @akhbar pic.twitter.com/a7bv48f3WT
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 14, 2016
Orlando was just the beginning … of a renewed push for gun control, punctuated by a 25-hour catered sleep-over by Democrats on the House floor.
More ISIS posters threatening #Germany. @akhbar pic.twitter.com/sABd2nIOY6
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 14, 2016
This is truly frightening stuff, considering how many people were killed Thursday by a truck — never mind the weapons found inside.
ProISIS telegram channels cant hide their happiness with #NiceAttack. Here more horrible posters they r circulating pic.twitter.com/B4MtbH7f0l
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 15, 2016
And there are more:
Pro #IslamicState Social Media Accounts Celebrating #Nice Attack. pic.twitter.com/lMr4ZktzmR
— Terrormonitor.org (@Terror_Monitor) July 15, 2016
Horrible. And while good people use hashtags to send their thoughts and prayers to the people of France, ISIS is also using those same hashtags to ensure its message is spread as widely as possible. The question is: are the right people paying attention?
ISIS channels are urging their followers to use same hashtag used by rest of the world to spread their threats & messaging. #NiceAttack
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 14, 2016
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