That doesn't make it right or okay, but I can see a situation where both something happened and The Powers That Be immediately got to work constructing the narrative to their benefit

Yup, I think that's exactly it. And it's not even a reach, but people freak out regardless.

Honestly, an obvious true statement like "Propaganda is a real thing, and people can benefit by exaggerating and pushing an angle" is more plausible than the official story, exactly as written.