It was a kiss that ricocheted around the world, becoming an instant Internet sensation. And despite the speculation that the photo was staged, the snoggers have been identified and the moment proved real.

The backdrop was a Vancouver street with police cars burning, looters smashing windows and rioters brawling in the aftermath of Vancouver Canucks' loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

The Australian website ninemsn identified the photographed kissing couple as Perth native Scott Jones and his Vancouver-native girlfriend, Alexandra Thomas, after Jones' sister and mother came forward.

It is something he would do; that's our boy, his mother, Megan Jones of Perth, told ninemsn. He has always lived in his own world. He's special like that. He doesn't always connect with what's going on around him.

I just thought, yep, that would be Scott because he's a bit of a dreamer and he wouldn't have even known there was a riot going no around him, quite possibly, she said, according to The Globe and Mail.

The man's father, Brett Jones of Perth, wrote on his Facebook page, How's that for making love not war!

According to some self-described witnesses, Thomas was injured and Jones was comforting her.

Jones' father said the picture is legitimate, but not what it seems.

She had actually been injured, Brett Jones told the Toronto Star. A riot police officer had apparently knocked her down with his shield, he said. He lay down next to her to comfort her. She was crying, and he just kissed her to calm her down.

The photograph was taken by photographer Richard Lam, who told The Vancouver Sun that at the time, he did not realize he had captured two people kissing.

I thought people were hurt, Lam told The Sun. I didn't even look at it. A colleague said 'nice photo.' Then I went back to the editing room, and looked at it. My jaw dropped.

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