Jota Abril incorrectly identifies the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars as an al-Qaida logo. RTE/La Manana video screenshot

MADRID, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A Spanish TV reporter apologized on Twitter after confusing the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars for an al-Qaida logo.

Jota Abril, a reporter for TVE's morning news program La Manana, was on the show Monday discussing the history of Raqqa, Syria, an Islamic State stronghold targeted by French strikes in the wake of Friday's attacks in Paris.


Abril said Raqqa "was one of the first cities taken in 2013 by terrorist groups, but terrorist groups from al-Qaida," while gesturing to a black symbol above some apparent Arabic writing.

Twitter users were quick to point out that the symbol cited by Abril is the symbol of the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars.

Esta mañana he confundido un logo durante una explicación en el programa. Culpa mía. Lo siento si ha podido ofender a alguien. — Jota Abril (@JotaAbril) November 16, 2015

"This morning I confused a logo in an explanation during the program. My own fault. I am sorry if it offended anyone," Abril tweeted.

Twitter users wasted no time having fun with Abril's flub.

Para TVE ayer la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars eran terroristas y hoy aparece el Emperador George Bush. Todo cuadra. pic.twitter.com/fmWGSRMCOC — Jedi Keating (@Franatico5) November 17, 2015

"For TVE yesterday, the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars were terrorists and today it appears that George Bush is the Emperor. Everything adds up," @Franatico5 tweeted with a photoshopped photo of former U.S. President George W. Bush as a Sith Lord.

Gracias a @tve_tve por enseñarnos que Al Qaeda es en realidad la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars. Siempre lo sospeché. pic.twitter.com/ZeAHJumMqa — Riot Madrid (@riotmadrid) November 17, 2015

"Thank you to TVE for teaching us that al-Qaida is in reality the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars. I always suspected it," @riotmadrid tweeted.

The Local revealed the confusion seems to have stemmed from the logo of a record label. The Rebel Alliance symbol, along with the fake Arabic writing under it, is actually the logo of reggaeton record label Alqaeda Inc.

The logo appears about one hour and 39 minutes into the La Manana episode: