BuzzFeed Staff

World

His photo first circulated after the Brussels bombings, and now he's been accused of committing the Ansbach suicide attack.

Already mistaken for one of the persons behind the Brussels bombings, Anas Modamani was mistaken for the bomber of Ansbach, Germany.

The bomb attack was <a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/proche-orient/offensive-jihadiste-en-irak/allemagne-l-auteur-de-l-attentat-suicide-pres-d-un-festival-de-musique-dimanche-soir-avait-fait-allegeance-a-l-etat-islamique_1562743.html">claimed by the Islamic State group</a>.

A 27-year-old Syrian refugee committed suicide on Sunday July 24 in a bombing that wounded about twelve people, including three people under critical conditions, in Ansbach, Germany.

The author of the tweet is known to regularly circulate pieces of false or misleading information in defense of extreme right-wing ideas.


After the attack, a Twitter user posted a so-called photo of the attacker taking a selfie with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

The tweet has been shared more than 300 times, but it is totally wrong. The man in the photo is called Anas Modamani and he is a student in Berlin. His photo with Angela Merkel began circulating after the Brussels bomb attacks that took place on March 22, 2016.

 Contacted by BuzzFeed News, he sent us back to the interview he gave to the German media after the Brussels bombings.


Many far-right accounts had mistaken Anas Modamani for Laachraoui Najim, one of the persons behind the Brussels bombings. At the time, the young man was said to be "saddened" about the situation with <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/refugee-saddened-by-comparison-with-brussels-bomber/a-19143918">Deutsche Welle</a>.

"He thinks that the negative sentiment against refugees is likely to grow and can have an impact on the laws concerning them. Anas fears he may not be granted asylum, shattering his dream of bringing his family to Germany, "says the German media.


Anas Modamani fled the war in Damascus and came to Germany in September 2015. He was received by a family a few months later, in early 2016. Henceforth, he's learning German and waiting for a response to his request for asylum, according to Deutsche Welle.

The author of the tweet who was making Anas Modamani look like a terrorist was also mistaken about the status of the person behind the bombing. Indeed, he was not "put up, fed, or paid" by Angela Merkel <a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/europe/allemagne-un-refugie-syrien-se-fait-exploser-pres-d-un-festival-de-musique-blessant-12-personnes-dont-trois-grievement_1562347.html">given that his request for asylum was rejected</a> a year ago.

This Syrian refugee is wrongly accused by the extreme right of being a terrorist 

Ce refugié syrien est accusé à tort d’être un terroriste par l'extrême droite

Anas Modamani a fui la guerre à Damas et est arrivé en Allemagne en septembre 2015. Il a été accueilli par une famille quelques mois plus tard, au début de l'année 2016. Désormais, il apprend l'allemand et attend une réponse pour sa demande d'asile, d'après Deutsche Welle.

«Il pense que le sentiment négatif à l'égard des réfugiés est susceptible de croître et peut avoir un impact sur les lois à leur sujet. Anas craint qu'il ne puisse pas obtenir l'asile, brisant son rêve de faire venir sa famille en Allemagne», explique le média allemand.

L'auteur du tweet qui faisait passer Anas Modamani pour un terroriste s'est également trompé sur le statut de l'auteur de l'attentat. En effet, il n'était pas «logé, nourri, payé» par Angela Merkel puisque <a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/europe/allemagne-un-refugie-syrien-se-fait-exploser-pres-d-un-festival-de-musique-blessant-12-personnes-dont-trois-grievement_1562347.html">sa demande d'asile avait été rejetée</a> il y a un an.

Déjà confondu avec un des auteurs de l'attentat de Bruxelles, Anas Modamani a été pris pour l'auteur de l'attentat d'Ansbach, en Allemagne.

Un réfugié syrien de 27 ans s'est donné la mort dimanche 24 juillet dans un attentat qui a fait une douzaine de blessés, dont trois grièvement, à Ansbach en Allemagne.

L'attaque a été <a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/proche-orient/offensive-jihadiste-en-irak/allemagne-l-auteur-de-l-attentat-suicide-pres-d-un-festival-de-musique-dimanche-soir-avait-fait-allegeance-a-l-etat-islamique_1562743.html">revendiquée par le groupe État islamique</a>.

Après l'attaque, un utilisateur de Twitter a diffusé une prétendue photo de l'assaillant prenant un selfie avec la chancelière allemande, Angela Merkel.

L'auteur du tweet est connu pour diffuser régulièrement des informations erronées ou déformées afin de défendre des idées d'extrême droite.

Le tweet a été partagé plus de 300 fois, mais il est totalement faux. L'homme sur la photo s'appelle Anas Modamani et étudie à Berlin. Sa photo avec Angela Merkel avait commencé à circuler après les attentats de Bruxelles, qui ont eu lieu le 22 mars 2016.

De nombreux comptes d'extrême droite avaient pris Anas Modamani pour Najim Laachraoui, un des auteurs de l'attentat de Bruxelles. À l'époque, le jeune homme s'était dit «attristé» de la situation auprès de <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/refugee-saddened-by-comparison-with-brussels-bomber/a-19143918">Deutsche Welle</a>.

Contacté par BuzzFeed News, il nous a renvoyés vers l'interview qu'il avait donnée au média allemand après les attentats de Bruxelles.

The bomb attack was <a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/proche-orient/offensive-jihadiste-en-irak/allemagne-l-auteur-de-l-attentat-suicide-pres-d-un-festival-de-musique-dimanche-soir-avait-fait-allegeance-a-l-etat-islamique_1562743.html">claimed by the Islamic State group</a>.

The author of the tweet is known to regularly circulate pieces of false or misleading information in defense of extreme right-wing ideas.

Contacted by BuzzFeed News, he sent us back to the interview he gave to the German media after the Brussels bombings.

"He thinks that the negative sentiment against refugees is likely to grow and can have an impact on the laws concerning them. Anas fears he may not be granted asylum, shattering his dream of bringing his family to Germany, "says the German media.

A Syrian Refugee Took A Selfie With Angela Merkel And Now He Keeps Getting Accused Of Terrorism

It said he committed the attack after having arrived in Germany two years ago and being "housed, fed, and paid" by the Merkel government.That's not true.

Modamani's photo was also posted to the Facebook page run by Anonymous in Germany, <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/refugee-saddened-by-comparison-with-brussels-bomber/a-19143918" target="_blank">according to Deutsche Welle</a>.

When contacted by BuzzFeed News, he referred us to the interview he gave to Deutsche Welle and declined to comment further.

He's currently awaiting a response to his request for asylum in Germany, according to Deutsche Welle.

News

L'extrême droite prend tout le temps ce réfugié syrien pour un terroriste

About BuzzFeed Community

Community Brand Guidelines

BuzzFeed Community

Sorry, this content is no longer supported.

BuzzFeed Community Guidelines

BuzzFeed Community Leaderboard

BuzzFeed News has breaking stories and original reporting on politics, world news, social media, viral trends, health, science, technology, entertainment, and LGBTQ issues.

All the best animals on the internet. The snuggle is real.

BuzzFeed has breaking news, vital journalism, quizzes, videos, celeb news, Tasty food videos, recipes, DIY hacks, and all the trending buzz you’ll want to share with your friends. Copyright BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.

BuzzFeed News | Breaking News | Original Reporting | News Analysis

Animal Pictures and Videos - Adorably from BuzzFeed

Name

Thanks for subscribing!

Stay up to date with our latest BuzzFeed video. Enter your email to subscribe!

Oops! Upload an image or add text to submit.

BuzzFeed has the hottest, most social content on the web. We feature breaking buzz and the kinds of things you'd want to pass along to your friends.

A Syrian Refugee Took A Selfie With Angela Merkel And Now He Keeps Getting Accused Of Terrorism

A 27-year-old Syrian refugee set off a suicide bomb on Sunday near a wine bar in Ansbach, Germany. Soon after, a French Twitter user posted a photo of a refugee taking a selfie with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The tweet said the man was the bomber.

The man in the photo is a Syrian refugee named Anas Modamani. He fled Damascus last year and now lives in Berlin. This is actually the second time Modamani has been falsely accused of committing a terrorist attack.

His photo with Merkel also circulated on Twitter after the Brussels Airport bombings in March.

Many far-right accounts mistook Modamani for Najim Laachraoui, one of the people behind the Brussels bombings.

Modamani spoke with Deutsche Welle after the picture first circulated. He said he was "saddened" to see his photo connected with a terrorist act.

Modamani has been living with a foster family in Berlin and is taking German language classes. He recently posted on Facebook to say he is looking for other people to study German with him.

View this post on Facebook