Angry Argentine mob attacks journalists covering demonstration against lockdown measures
Record ID:
1561682
Angry Argentine mob attacks journalists covering demonstration against lockdown measures
- Title: Angry Argentine mob attacks journalists covering demonstration against lockdown measures
- Date: 10th July 2020
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 10, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) C5N JOURNALIST LAUTARO MAISLIN, SAYING: ''I managed to film the image of a person who hit the right side window of the van and broke it, then they started to insult us and come closer and closer but the distance was not enough for the blows to be received by our bodies. Luckily and on the other hand, I filmed the moment when a person stood at the broken window and shouted: 'You are going to start feeling scared.' That was a very tense moment. I would also like to point out -what I was told on the mobile phone by my colleagues. They realised technicians from the vans from channels 26 and TN were the ones who put together a cord next to our van so that the van could finally leave the square and not end up being shattered."
- Embargoed: 24th July 2020 21:27
- Keywords: Argentina Buenos Aires journalists obelisk protests
- Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA004CM89WEF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: PART FILMED IN PORTRAIT
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE
Journalists including members of an Argentine TV crew were attacked by a mob of angry protesters in Buenos Aires on Friday (July 10) as hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in the Argentine capital on Thursday (July 9).
The demonstrators had gathered to protest against the national government and the quarantine measures imposed in the city, during Argentina's independence day amid the coronavirus outbreak.
At around 5 p.m. (local time), the protest turned violent when a mob gathered around a van belonging to left-leaning TV network C5N close to the capital's central obelisk.
C5N journalist Lautaro Maislin who was inside the van, filmed the onslaught with his mobile phone. The demonstrators tried to break into the van - unhinging a window and trying to enter through the back - but the journalists and technical staff managed to escape unscathed.
Ezequiel Guazzora from Comunicacion Popular media, was also chased by a horde of demonstrators into a store and beaten up. Guazzora suffered from injuries to his right hand and severe trauma to the chest, according to the city's public prosecutor's office. Two cases were initiated by prosecutors including that of Guazzora.
Attacks on the media were rejected by officials, lawmakers and media unions, among others.
On Thursday, demonstrators directed their rage at President Alberto Fernandez's government, before heading to the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in the historic Plaza de Mayo square.
Argentines still have eight more days of strict quarantine to endure, with measures put in place such as citizens holding transit papers whilst out of their homes to ensure only the most essential movement in the capital city.
(Production: Juan Bustamante, Geraldine Downer) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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