The video of the explosion is from China, not Tel Aviv – full facts

A video is being shared with the false claim that it shows a “large explosion” at the headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency in Tel Aviv.

The clip is circulating on Facebook with the caption: “Apparently massive explosion at Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv.”

It shows a large fire burning near two skyscrapers before several large explosions occur and a huge fireball rises into the sky. In response to the explosions, people can be heard talking in English and cursing.

The video accompanied by this caption was shared on October 1, following an attack by Iran that day in which the country fired over 180 missiles at Israel.

Rockets reportedly flew over Tel Aviv, hitting areas around the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

However, this is not what the shared video represents.

Where is the video from?

It's actually from 2015 and shows a chemical explosion in a warehouse in Tianjin, China, in August 2015.

The same video is available on YouTube, uploaded by Hong Kong Free Press in 2015, titled “Tianjin Explosion: Another View” and the caption: “First handheld footage of explosions in Tianjin's Binhai New Area on August 12, 2015.”

The clip was recorded by an American living in Tianjin.

The explosions occurred at a chemical warehouse, killing 173 people and injuring more than 700 others. This was one of the deadliest industrial accidents in China's history.

In 2016, the head of the chemical plant, Ruihai Logistics Chairman Yu Xuewei, was given a suspended death sentence and imprisoned for his role in the disaster. He was one of 49 employees and government officials jailed for their roles in the company's illegal operations.

Full Fact debunked false claims back in 2022, sharing the same video showing a fire sparked by a Russian airstrike in Ukraine.

During global news events, it is important to check whether videos and images shared on social media actually show what they promise. Our guides for checking misleading content can help you.