Full Fact

What was claimed An explosion in Rotherham in which a man died is linked to an attempted terror attack. Our verdict There’s no evidence for this. South Yorkshire Police say counter terrorism police are not involved in the investigation and no evidence of any crime has been uncovered. Posts on social media have claimed the death of a man in an explosion on a residential street in Rotherham was linked to an attempted terror attack.

What was claimed A video shows Elon Musk saying billions of people may die by 2030 due to water shortages. Our verdict False. The video was modified, likely using a voice clone and lip syncing tool. Mr Musk doesn’t mention water shortages in the original clip. A video shared thousands of times on Facebook appears to show Elon Musk saying that billions of people could die by 2030 due to water shortages. This is false. The audio in the clip is fake.

What was claimed Reform UK’s only health policy at the last election was a “tax break for private healthcare companies”. Our verdict False. Reform UK proposed a series of health policies on a full page of its manifesto, one of which was “tax relief of 20% on all private healthcare and insurance”.

AI-generated false content is no longer a fringe curiosity in the UK's information ecosystem. It's a fast-growing share of everything fact checkers investigate. In this new study, funded through the AISI Challenge Fund, Full Fact and the University of Westminster analysed 112 pieces of online AI-generated or AI-altered misinformation and disinformation that circulated between January 2025 and March 2026, collectively seen tens of millions of times.

A video compilation showing missile strikes and buildings collapsing has been shared on social media with a caption implying it shows footage of US strikes on Iran. The compilation actually includes two old clips from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as multiple videos which appear to be fake. The one-minute compilation features eight different clips of explosions and drone strikes with the overlaid caption “US strikes 140 targets in Iran war is back on”.

Evidence you can rely on Fact checking claims made by politicians, public figures and viral online content can give you the full picture backed by the evidence. Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from Full Fact for updates on politics, immigration, health and more. Our fact checks are free to read but not to produce, so you will also get occasional emails about fundraising and other ways you can help. You can unsubscribe at any time.

What was claimed Free bus travel for children in England in August 2026 was used by over 14.5 million children. Our verdict Incorrect. The government has now clarified that children made over 14.5 million free bus journeys in August. There are only about 7.5 million children aged 5 to 15 in England.

What was claimed A video shows a BBC News presenter saying that an Indian passenger was reportedly involved with a recent attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Our verdict The BBC has confirmed that this video is fake. The suspected attacker on the flight has not been named, but has been identified by Israel as an Omani national.

A video circulating online claims to show “terrifying footage” from the Israel-bound Flydubai flight on which a pilot was reportedly stabbed. It shows a plane descending over a built up area as passengers are heard screaming. The attack on the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv did prompt an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, but this footage does not show it. The clip appears to show a different Flydubai plane flying over Dubai.

Image courtesy of Paul Ellis/AFP Andy Burnham has given his first conference speech as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister. Speaking in Liverpool on Tuesday (29 September), he made a number of key pledges, including commitments to end the pensions ‘triple lock’ from 2030, introduce new leasehold reforms and launch a National Care Service.