The 2017 Manchester Bombing was one of the worst terrorist attacks ever on UK soil, killing 22 people and injuring over a thousand.
But incredibly, one man has been in court over his claims the attack never happened, that it was a fake news event, that the injured are so-called ‘crisis actors’ – actors whom conspiracy theorists believe are hired to stage atrocities.
Richard Hall, a former TV producer, believes it was an ‘elaborate hoax’ – that it did not happen.
Two victims of the suicide bombing are suing him over alleged harassment and over data protection issues – a judgement of the case is expected later this month.
But Hall is not the only person who believes in crisis actors and many atrocities never happened.
In a world with growing disinformation, influencers have been able to spread conspiracy theories like this one to millions of their followers.
Podcast host Alex Jones was ordered to pay families involved in the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 $1.5 billion after he claimed it was staged.
Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph journalist Kurtis Reid to find out why conspiracy theorists deny events like the Manchester Arena Bombing.
The ‘crisis actors’ conspiracy
