Recently, an image showing Muslims praying on Downing Street in London has circulated online, presented as authentic. The image appears to show dozens of people praying outside Number 10, the residence of the British Prime Minister, with social media users suggesting it was a tribute to newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. However, several visual clues indicate that this image is actually a piece of synthetic media.
Firstly, the image has glaring anomalies. Two individuals are missing heads, and others have warped hands. Additionally, the arch over the doorway of Number 10, which is present in real life, is missing in the image. Furthermore, there are two windows to the left of the door in the social media image, while in reality, there is only one. The color of the brickwork beyond the two windows also does not match the authentic structure.
Reuters conducted an investigation and found no credible reports of such an event taking place on Downing Street either before or after the July 4 election. When Reuters reached out for a comment, Downing Street declined to respond.
VERDICT
The image is synthetic media. The visual inconsistencies, such as missing heads, warped hands, and incorrect architectural details, confirm that the image is not authentic.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. For more information about our fact-checking process, visit our website.
