Three foreign residents of a Dubai apartment block hit by an Iranian drone have been arrested following the attack, it has been claimed.
According to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, the individuals were detained after allegedly sending private images of the Iranian attack to their loved ones.
It comes less than a week after a drone struck Creek Harbour apartments, triggering a fire and leading to the evacuation of the residential building.
Although the fire was quickly brought under control and no one was reportedly injured, images and videos quickly circulated on social media depicting flames in one of the high-rise apartments.
The United Arab Emirates has enforced strict rules on sharing information and images related to the Israel-US war on Iran, with potentially serious penalties for those who cause public panic, harm public order, or promote fake news.
According to Detained in Dubai, the three people were ‘traumatised’ by the incident, but instead of receiving support, they were “locked up” by authorities.
“Foreign residents often assume that sending a photo privately to family members is harmless,” said Radha Stirling.
“Three traumatised survivors of an Iran drone strike were arrested after privately sharing a photo with loved ones confirming they were alive following an explosion on their apartment floor,” she added.
“Instead of receiving victim support, they were locked up by Dubai police.”
It is unclear at this point whether the people in question shared the videos elsewhere, except for in private communication channels.
A further 21 people have reportedly been detained in recent weeks, including a 60-year-old British tourist, as the GCC region grapples with an escalating regional war after the US and Israel attacked Iran, triggering retaliation.
Reports say the detainees are accused of using an “information technology tool to broadcast, publish, republish or circulate false news, rumours or provocative propaganda that may incite public opinion or disturb public security”.
Dubai continues to intercept Iranian drones, as war continues to rage across the Middle East, over two weeks after the US killed Iran’s Supreme Leader.
A total of 2,000 people have died across the Middle East since the initial attack, including 165 Iranian school girls who investigators suspect were struck by a U.S. Tomahawk missile.
In the United Arab Emirates, seven fatalities have been reported alongside 145 injuries, with many expats fleeing the Gulf countries for the safety of their home countries.
