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Two Fox News anchors were forced to abruptly end interviews with guests spouting conspiracy theories about the Notre Dame fire.
Shepard Smith and Neil Cavuto each cut off right-wing commenters who suggested without evidence that the inferno at the famous Paris cathedral was started deliberately.
Although the cause of Monday’s blaze was not yet been established, French officials believe it was an accident – possibly linked to restoration work which was being carried out on the 800-year-old architectural masterpiece.
That did not stop Philippe Karsenty, a controversial right-wing politician in France , from describing the fire as “a French 9/11” during a live phone interview with Fox News.
The deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a western suburb of Paris, told Mr Smith: “You need to know that for the past years, we’ve had churches desecrated each and every week in France, all over France. So, of course, you will hear the story of political correctness which will tell you it’s probably an accident, but...”
Notre Dame burns: in picturesShow all 45 1 /45Notre Dame burns: in pictures Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames on the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, 15 April 2019. A fire started in the late afternoon in one of the most visited monuments of the French capital.
EPA
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Firefighter douse flames billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures This general view taken from Montparnasse Tower shows flames and smoke as they billow from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on 15 April, 2019.
AFP/Getty
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People look at smoke and flames rising during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People react as they watch flames engulf the roof of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in the French capital.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People cry and pray as they look at flames burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
EPA
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Sparks and flames are seen through a destroyed stained glass window as the Notre Dame Cathedral burns.
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures A view of Notre-Dame Cathedral on fire as seen from Montmartre in the east on 15 April, 2019 in Paris, France.
Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures An onlooker uses a telescope to film the fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures A man watches the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burn, engulfed in flames, in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures The steeple of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral collapses as the cathedral is engulfed in flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures The landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral is engulfed by flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billow and flames burn from the roof of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch from a bridge as smoke billows from Notre Dame Cathedral during a fire in Paris, France
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burns in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris.
AP
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris.
AP
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke rises as people watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows from the Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire broke out, in Paris, France
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019.
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019
REUTERS
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter feed of @slopezserra of smoke pouring from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which is on fire
PA
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
AFP/Getty Images
He was quickly shut down by Mr Smith, who said: “Sir, we’re not going to speculate here of the cause of something which we don’t know. If you have observations or you know something, we would love to hear it.”
Mr Karsenty protested he was “just telling you something, we need to be ready”, prompting the Fox News presenter to end the interview.
“We are not doing that here, not now, not on my watch,” Mr Smith declared.
The anchor’s decisiveness in shutting down the conspiracy theory won him praise from some on social media.
But others criticised Fox News for inviting Mr Karsenty to take part in the interview in the first place. In 2006, he was successfully sued for libel by France 2 after falsely accusing the French television channel of faking footage of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy being shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a gun battle in the Gaza Strip.
Mr Karsenty “was a known conspiracy theorist who has been convicted of defamation related to said conspiracy theories,” tweeted Huffington Post journalist Andy Campbell. “You don’t get kudos for inviting a corn cob as your expert and then saying ‘who let this corn cob in?’”
Mr Cavuto later cut off another guest who said he was “suspicious” about the cause of the Notre Dame fire.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, a conservative American organisation, told the presenter: “Well, Neil, if it is an accident, it’s a monumental tragedy, but forgive me for being suspicious.
“Just last month, a 17th-century church was set on fire in Paris. We have seen tabernacles knocked down, crosses have been torn down, statues have been smashed.”
The anchor responded: “We don’t know that, we don’t know, so if we can avoid whatever your suspicions might be.”
Notre Dame fire: What we know so far He added “we cannot make conjectures about this”. After ending the interview, Mr Cavuto told viewers: “We’re not trying to be rude to our guests here – there is so much we do not know about what happened here.
“We do know that about four hours ago, something started here. There are incidents that have been raised against the Catholic Church on popular tourist sites in and around Paris, no stranger to attacks, but another leap to start taking views like that when we don’t know.”
Mr Donohue later responded indignantly on social media, writing on the Catholic League’s Twitter account: “Fox News asks me to be available by phone to discuss the Notre Dame fire with Neil Cavuto. I explicitly say it may be an accident and then say it may not be. I try to give examples of recent attacks by thugs destroying churches, and then I am cut off. What has happened to Fox?”
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The interviews came as right-wing provocateurs attempted to seize upon the Note Dame inferno to spread conspiracy theories designed to fuel anti-Muslim hate.
Neo-nazi figurehead Richard Spencer said he hoped the fire would “spur the White man into action”, while French far-right troll Damien Rue and British InfoWars contributor Paul Joseph Watson both claimed without evidence that Muslims were celebrating the ruin of the Catholic cathedral.
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