False Port Talbot Chapel Arson Claims Garner Over 3 Million Views Despite Police Debunking

Port Talbot, Wales – South Wales Police have swiftly debunked widespread online misinformation regarding an arson attack on the Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, confirming the arrest of two local teenagers in connection with the April 24, 2025 incident. The police statement directly countered viral claims that attributed the fire to foreign nationals, emphasizing the local origin of the suspects.

The false narrative, which suggested the chapel fire was caused by "Pakistani migrants" or "Pakistani invaders," gained significant traction across social media platforms. According to a tweet from Shayan Sardarizadeh, a post spreading this misinformation accumulated "25,000 retweets, 83,000 likes, and over 3 million views," illustrating the rapid and extensive reach of unverified content.

South Wales Police responded directly to these inflammatory claims, stating on social media, "This is completely false information." They clarified that a 14-year-old boy from Sandfields and a 15-year-old boy from Bryn, both within Neath Port Talbot, were arrested on suspicion of arson days after the blaze. This official confirmation aimed to provide factual accuracy amidst the online speculation.

The Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, a historic and disused 19th-century building on Station Road, suffered severe damage in the fire. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Port Talbot, Morriston, and Neath responded to the scene, battling the blaze into the early hours of April 25. The incident prompted concerns about the structural safety of the remaining building.

The rapid spread of the false narrative highlights the challenges of combating misinformation, particularly when it taps into sensitive social issues. Despite the clear and timely intervention from law enforcement, the original misleading posts continued to circulate widely, underscoring the need for public vigilance and reliance on official sources for accurate information.