Polygraph

Independent journalist Nick Shirley was chased, threatened, and pelted with objects while reporting in Ceuta.

Posted by The Gerry Callahan Show, Checked

Polygraph verdictTrue
Sources
5 support2 context
Said
1 time·
Confidence
70%
The Gerry Callahan ShowAug 4, 2026
View on Podcast ↗
Video frame

- Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary centers on Abdul El-Sayed’s alliance with Hasan Piker and the party’s growing socialist wing. - Footage from Ceuta shows migrants overwhelming the Spanish border as independent journalist Nick Shirley is chased, threatened and pelted with objects while reporting. - Seth Moulton calls for prosecuting ICE and granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants as agents arrest a convicted child sex offender in Massachusetts. …

61 claimsThe check →

Multiple outlets report, citing Shirley's video, that he was chased in Ceuta by a man who threw rocks and a bottle, threatened to stab him, and was escorted away by Spanish police, matching the claim as extracted from the post.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What we found

Supports. NewsNation reports Shirley recounting that he was chased in Ceuta, that objects were thrown and rocks hurled at him, and that the man threatened 'I'm going to stab both of you'.[2]

Supports. Mediaite describes the video showing a man chucking rocks and bottles at Shirley and chasing him while shouting he would stab them, after which Spanish police escorted the crew back to their car.[3]

Supports. IBTimes reports, based on video posted to social media, that Shirley and a colleague were chased by men, one of whom appeared to brandish a knife, and were escorted to safety by Spanish National Police.[4]

Supports. Newsweek and Primetimer report Shirley's claim of being threatened and chased while covering the migrant influx in Ceuta, with the chase captured in his 29-minute video.[5][6]

Context. The Lead Stories fact checks concern other Ceuta videos (a cross-toppling and church-burning clip, and a Morocco border-crossing clip) and do not address Shirley's chase footage.[1]

Context. Some sources, including Newsweek, frame the threats as Shirley's allegations, and the knife itself is not clearly visible on the video; the partisan outlets add rhetoric not needed for the core claim.[3][5][7]

Sources

7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 5 not rated, 1 rated low

  1. 1Politics: August 2026 | Lead Storiesleadstories.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
  2. 2Nick Shirley says he was chased by man with knife covering Ceuta migrant crisisnewsnationnow.com · not rated · cited for: supports
  3. 3Nick Shirley Chased By Knife-Wielding Maniac in Spainmediaite.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
  4. 4YouTuber Escorted by Spanish Police After Knife Chase While ...ibtimes.co.uk · not rated · cited for: supports
  5. 5Nick Shirley’s Ceuta video goes viral as he alleges man threatened himnewsweek.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
  6. 6"Had to get in a police car": Nick Shirley claims he was threatened with a knife while covering migrant crisis in Ceutaprimetimer.com · not rated · cited for: supports
  7. 7migrant * The Gateway Punditthegatewaypundit.com · rated low for factual reporting by Iffy.news and Media Bias/Fact Check · cited for: context

Where this claim was made

Said in 1 published post

How Polygraph checks a claim

Our Weekly Newsletter

The Readout

The week's most-shared posts, checked. What they claimed, how they argued, and what held up.

Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.