Polymarket Bettors Issue Death Threats to Journalist Over Iran Missile Report

Odaily News Prediction market platform Polymarket stated that it has banned and reported users who issued death threats to an Israeli journalist. These users attempted to force the journalist to modify a news report about an Iranian missile strike, an incident linked to a prediction market with a betting volume of $17 million.

Emanuel Fabian, a military correspondent for The Times of Israel, wrote on Monday that he received messages demanding he alter his report concerning an Iranian missile that landed on the outskirts of the Israeli city Beit Shemesh on March 10. The prediction market allows users to bet on the date of an Iranian attack on Israel, and currently, over $17 million has been wagered on the option for March 10.

Fabian stated that he received threatening messages from a person calling himself "Haim," demanding he change the report or face severe consequences, and providing specific details about his parents, family, and residence. Fabian has reported this threat to the police, who are investigating.

Polymarket issued a statement on platform X condemning the harassment and threats against Emanuel Fabian, stating it has banned the relevant accounts and forwarded the information to the appropriate authorities. The Israel Defense Forces later confirmed that the missile that exploded on the outskirts of Beit Shemesh was not intercepted.