0/5

ABC’s Foreign Correspondent attacked in Egypt

A Foreign Correspondent crew were surrounded, punched and kicked by pro-government supporters in Egypt.

An ABC Foreign Correspondent crew have become one of the latest media targets of rioting in Egypt.

They were surrounded, punched and kicked by pro-government supporters during the fighting.

Presenter Mark Corcoran told ABC Radio’s AM programme, “We were re-entering Tahrir Square which is the centre of the anti-Mubarak movement.

“And literally as we turned a corner we walked straight into the opening waves of the violence today – just caught between the two lines throwing rocks, bottles, sticks at that stage. And from there we took shelter behind a tank.

“The soldiers were doing absolutely nothing – they were just sort of standing by watching the two sides go at each other.”

But then things took a turn for the worse

“….. we were basically pushed aside up an alley and then set upon – basically attacked – by one mob, while members – other individuals attempted to shield us while we beat a retreat.”

They only escaped the drama after being sheltered by some local shopkeepers.

Corcoran says the pro-Mubarak faction resents the foreign press.

Earlier this week CNN journalist Anderson Cooper and ABC News (US) corresponent Christiane Amanpou also described a tense situation from angry locals.

Source: ABC

5 Responses

  1. So, that means ABC Television has three reporters there, including Middle East correspondent, Ben Knight, UK correspondent, Philip Williams & now man-of-the-world, Mark Corcoran – That’s not even including Radio.

    Time to slash & burn those costs! 😉

  2. Channel Nine’s Peter Stefanovic told Today show this morning he was lucky to escape unharmed after being dragged from a taxi in Cairo by police and pro-government rioters.

  3. I think all the foreign journalists should evacuate the country. We can do without footage of these barbarians attacking each other. Give them democracy and they’ll find something else to protest against.

  4. Journos often take unecessary risks covering stories. I think a lot of it has to do with their egos and of course to give them that essential word in TV “credibility”. Shots of rioting crowds with voice overs tell the story just as well. The recent floods took measures to the extreme when every reporter felt they had to do their stand ups standing in water. The only thing that it told me was that they got their feet wet!

Leave a Reply