Turkish authorities on Saturday criticised a BBC reporter Laura Kuenssberg, who was travelling with British Prime Minister Theresa May, for spreading misleading information on social media about the presidential complex in Ankara.
Kuenssberg, who was covering May’s trip to Ankara, tweeted:
In Erdogan’s Palace – there’s a lot of gold pic.twitter.com/3ZqSzQDeX3
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) January 28, 2017
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in response said her claims were a 'string of lies' and showed 'low quality' journalism.
Kalin said none of the objects were made of gold.
String of lies about 'gold' in Presidential Complex by @bbclaurak None of these is gold. Only reflects the low quality of your journalism.
— Ibrahim Kalin (@ikalin1) January 28, 2017
Mustafa Varank, one of the top advisors to Turkish President, sent a tweet to the UK's ambassador to Turkey, asking his thoughts about the fake news.
Hey Laura look at Erdogan's Presidential Compound even guards are made of GOLD! @bbclaurak pic.twitter.com/8IuzVBTl35
— Mustafa Varank (@varank) January 28, 2017
Chief of cabinet to the president Dr. Hasan Dogan also criticised the reporter.
So, you think every shiny yellow thing you see is gold? Woow :))) @bbclaurak pic.twitter.com/0diHU9js94
— Dr. Hasan Doan (@hasandogan) January 28, 2017
Editor in chief of Daily Sabah Serdar Karagoz also slammed the reporter, saying her claim is a 'big lie.'
.@bbclaurak big lie, poor journalism and epic fail..
— Serdar Karagz (@serdarkaragoz) January 28, 2017
Turkish netizens also reacted sharply on Twitter, and some even are tweeting pictures from yellow taxis to Laura's hair asking if these were also gold.
Look at the liar, the taxis in Turkey are also made of Gold... pic.twitter.com/6hIXPkm7VR
— El Ksantos (@el_khsantos) January 28, 2017
Hey @bbclaurak , we have horses made of 24 k gold too.
#ThisIsGold pic.twitter.com/RhJrf3Qq7m
— Banu EL (@banuel) January 28, 2017
Dear @bbclaurak I strongly advice you to go to the #Grandbazaar. You may buy same "Gold" stuff. Esnaf arkadalar. Abla bu. lgileniverin bi. pic.twitter.com/MLaZOOl4sd
— Fatih ke (@okefatih) January 28, 2017
BBC correspondent @bbclaurak confuses Turkey's Presidential Complex with UK's Buckingham Palace, claiming former's replete with gold. pic.twitter.com/KncQU1Bb35
— Fact-Checking Turkey (@FactCheckingTR) January 28, 2017
Laura is a BBC reporter. She thinks everything in yellow is GOLD. Learn what BRASS is. Don't be like Laura. @bbclaurak
— Rahmi Kopar (@rahmikopar) January 28, 2017
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