Merlyn Thomas
@merlynthomas.bsky.social
BBC Verify Correspondent
OSINT/ social media/ disinformation investigations
Instagram: merlyncthomas
OSINT/ social media/ disinformation investigations
Instagram: merlyncthomas
Pinned
Sudan war: New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key city
RSF troops executed a number of unarmed people after seizing el-Fasher, videos reviewed by BBC Verify show.
bbc.com
New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key Sudan city.
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key Sudan city.
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
Sudan war: New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key city
RSF troops executed a number of unarmed people after seizing el-Fasher, videos reviewed by BBC Verify show.
bbc.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key Sudan city.
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.
We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.
bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo
For Palestinians, a line on a map can be the difference between life and death.
BBC Verify found Israel is controlling more of Gaza than agreed in the ceasefire deal.
Israel said anyone who crossed its "yellow line" would be “met with fire”.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify found Israel is controlling more of Gaza than agreed in the ceasefire deal.
Israel said anyone who crossed its "yellow line" would be “met with fire”.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israel maintaining control deeper inside Gaza than expected, new boundary markers suggest
Israel has placed boundary markers up to 520m deeper inside Gaza than expected under the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
For Palestinians, a line on a map can be the difference between life and death.
BBC Verify found Israel is controlling more of Gaza than agreed in the ceasefire deal.
Israel said anyone who crossed its "yellow line" would be “met with fire”.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify found Israel is controlling more of Gaza than agreed in the ceasefire deal.
Israel said anyone who crossed its "yellow line" would be “met with fire”.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The White published a map of what a future Gaza would look like as part of a 20-point peace plan.
BBC Verify analysis shows that the proposed 'final withdrawal' would still leave Gaza 15% occupied.
Reporting w/ @benedictgarman.com
Graphics @mesutersoz.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify analysis shows that the proposed 'final withdrawal' would still leave Gaza 15% occupied.
Reporting w/ @benedictgarman.com
Graphics @mesutersoz.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Unpicking Trump’s Gaza peace plan map
BBC Verify analyses President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and what it means on the ground.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The White published a map of what a future Gaza would look like as part of a 20-point peace plan.
BBC Verify analysis shows that the proposed 'final withdrawal' would still leave Gaza 15% occupied.
Reporting w/ @benedictgarman.com
Graphics @mesutersoz.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify analysis shows that the proposed 'final withdrawal' would still leave Gaza 15% occupied.
Reporting w/ @benedictgarman.com
Graphics @mesutersoz.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify tasked new satellite imagery to track the Israeli military offensive in Gaza City in near real time. What we found was Israeli military presence deep into the city and closing in on its last remaining residents.
Reporting with @benedictgarman.com @mesutersoz.com @herdjemimah.bsky.social
Reporting with @benedictgarman.com @mesutersoz.com @herdjemimah.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
BBC Verify tasked new satellite imagery to track the Israeli military offensive in Gaza City in near real time. What we found was Israeli military presence deep into the city and closing in on its last remaining residents.
Reporting with @benedictgarman.com @mesutersoz.com @herdjemimah.bsky.social
Reporting with @benedictgarman.com @mesutersoz.com @herdjemimah.bsky.social
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
On Israel's destruction of prominent buildings in Gaza City w/ @merlynthomas.bsky.social @paulybrown.bsky.social @richib.bsky.social and @sebkilli.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Israel demolishes more high-rise towers as Gaza City offensive ramps up
BBC Verify's Merlyn Thomas looks at the latest Israeli strikes on buildings in Gaza City city over the weekend.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
On Israel's destruction of prominent buildings in Gaza City w/ @merlynthomas.bsky.social @paulybrown.bsky.social @richib.bsky.social and @sebkilli.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds
New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 7:18 AM
NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds
New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 7:18 AM
NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.
@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
Israel hit Nasser hospital 4 times in its deadly attack on Monday. Analysis with @merlynthomas.bsky.social and Sebastian Vandermeersch. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds
New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Israel hit Nasser hospital 4 times in its deadly attack on Monday. Analysis with @merlynthomas.bsky.social and Sebastian Vandermeersch. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
We geolocated the view out of the window as Jeremy Bowen's team filmed packages falling from a plane over Gaza yesterday. They were dropped into a "dangerous combat zone", which Palestinians are warned not to enter because it would put their lives at risk. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
July 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
We geolocated the view out of the window as Jeremy Bowen's team filmed packages falling from a plane over Gaza yesterday. They were dropped into a "dangerous combat zone", which Palestinians are warned not to enter because it would put their lives at risk. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
Investigation by @merlynthomas.bsky.social and @emmapengelly.bsky.social prompts IDF to admit 'error' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israeli army admits to Gaza strike after BBC Verify investigation
At least one Palestinian was killed and 30 others injured in the Israeli strike on tents in Khan Younis on Sunday, medics say.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 6, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Investigation by @merlynthomas.bsky.social and @emmapengelly.bsky.social prompts IDF to admit 'error' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NEW: BBC Verify has uncovered a previously unacknowledged Israeli strike in al-Mawasi.
The Israeli army admitted that the strike did not hit its intended "target" due to "technical or operational errors".
W/
@emmapengelly.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Israeli army admitted that the strike did not hit its intended "target" due to "technical or operational errors".
W/
@emmapengelly.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israeli army admits to Gaza strike after BBC Verify investigation
At least one Palestinian was killed and 30 others injured in the Israeli strike on tents in Khan Younis on Sunday, medics say.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
NEW: BBC Verify has uncovered a previously unacknowledged Israeli strike in al-Mawasi.
The Israeli army admitted that the strike did not hit its intended "target" due to "technical or operational errors".
W/
@emmapengelly.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Israeli army admitted that the strike did not hit its intended "target" due to "technical or operational errors".
W/
@emmapengelly.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Gaza medics killing: Israeli army fired as close as 12m, audio suggests
The analysis shows Israeli troops fired 100 shots during the attack which killed 15 people.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Gaza medics killing: Israeli army fired as close as 12m, audio suggests
The analysis shows Israeli troops fired 100 shots during the attack which killed 15 people.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
A follow up to our previous piece tracking rebel forces in Syria w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social @shayan86.bsky.social @merlynthomas.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Tracking Syrian rebels' lightning offensive as they approach key city
BBC Verify has been tracking the territory captured by Syrian rebels as they move towards Homs.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 7:31 PM
A follow up to our previous piece tracking rebel forces in Syria w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social @shayan86.bsky.social @merlynthomas.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years.
BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media.
@paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media.
@paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria
It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 2:40 PM
It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years.
BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media.
@paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media.
@paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria, reporting from @merlynthomas.bsky.social, @benedictgarman.com, @paulybrown.bsky.social + many others. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria
It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 9:01 AM
BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria, reporting from @merlynthomas.bsky.social, @benedictgarman.com, @paulybrown.bsky.social + many others. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The biggest offensive against the government in years
Here's BBC Verify's workings on rebel media in W Aleppo: bsky.app/profile/rich...
And people leaving the area around the university: bsky.app/profile/rich...
w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social, @merlynthomas.bsky.social
The biggest offensive against the government in years
Here's BBC Verify's workings on rebel media in W Aleppo: bsky.app/profile/rich...
And people leaving the area around the university: bsky.app/profile/rich...
w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social, @merlynthomas.bsky.social
November 29, 2024 at 6:06 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The biggest offensive against the government in years
Here's BBC Verify's workings on rebel media in W Aleppo: bsky.app/profile/rich...
And people leaving the area around the university: bsky.app/profile/rich...
w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social, @merlynthomas.bsky.social
The biggest offensive against the government in years
Here's BBC Verify's workings on rebel media in W Aleppo: bsky.app/profile/rich...
And people leaving the area around the university: bsky.app/profile/rich...
w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social, @merlynthomas.bsky.social
Reposted by Merlyn Thomas
Here’s a behind the scenes look at BBC Verify today: We’re fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s views on health issues after Donald Trump nominated him to be the next US health secretary.
Stay up to date with the BBC’s live blog here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
Stay up to date with the BBC’s live blog here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
November 15, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Here’s a behind the scenes look at BBC Verify today: We’re fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s views on health issues after Donald Trump nominated him to be the next US health secretary.
Stay up to date with the BBC’s live blog here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
Stay up to date with the BBC’s live blog here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
Hi brave new world! Thought I'd introduce myself here. I'm a senior reporter at BBC Verify covering OSINT + social media investigations and mis/disinformation and its real-world harm.
Get in touch about stories I should be investigating via merlyn.thomas@bbc.co.uk or merlynthomas.11 on Signal
Get in touch about stories I should be investigating via merlyn.thomas@bbc.co.uk or merlynthomas.11 on Signal
November 18, 2024 at 2:25 PM
Hi brave new world! Thought I'd introduce myself here. I'm a senior reporter at BBC Verify covering OSINT + social media investigations and mis/disinformation and its real-world harm.
Get in touch about stories I should be investigating via merlyn.thomas@bbc.co.uk or merlynthomas.11 on Signal
Get in touch about stories I should be investigating via merlyn.thomas@bbc.co.uk or merlynthomas.11 on Signal