- Title: GAZA: Arabiya TV office in Gaza damaged by bomb
- Date: 23rd January 2007
- Summary: (W4) GAZA CITY, GAZA (JANUARY 22, 2007) (REUTERS) JOURNALIST AND PALESTINIAN SECURITY MAN WALKING THROUGH CORRIDOR, CLOSE OF SHATTERED DOOR, VARIOUS DAMAGE, VARIOUS PEOPLE EXAMINING DAMAGE, SIGNS ON WALL READING 'REUTERS', 'MBC' CLOSE OF DESTROYED WALL VARIOUS OF SHATTERED GLASS AND METAL FRAMES ON FLOOR MORE OF DESTROYED WALL VARIOUS OF DAMAGE IN OFFICE PEOPLE GOING THROU
- Embargoed: 7th February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA2LEEYB7JYFJFABI1FWALXE7NO
- Story Text: A blast hit office of al-Arabiya television station in Gaza, but no casualties were reported. The explosion also damaged the office of Reuters News Agency. Both Hamas and Fatah condemned the attack.
An explosion ripped through the office of Al Arabiya television in Gaza City on Monday (January 22), causing no injuries, police said.
The newsroom was empty when an explosive device placed outside detonated, police said, destroying the outside door of the office of the Dubai-based Arabic satellite television station and damaging some walls inside.
Militant groups Hamas and the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades condemned the attack.
Hamas official Fawzi Barhom arrived at the site and met with al-Arabiya staff.
"What happened today is condemned by Hamas because whoever has done this type of violence is the enemy of Hamas and the enemy of the Palestinian people and the enemy of the government," Barhom told reporters.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
"We are not blaming anybody. There are security forces and law, they know their job, and justice will be done," Al-Arabiya correspondent in Gaza, Seif Shaim, told Reuters.
Palestinian journalists in Gaza said they would go on strike on Tuesday to protest the bombing.
Arabiya executive editor Nabil al-Khatib said in Dubai the television station had received threats against its office but it was not clear if the blast was linked to the threats. Palestinian police said they were investigating the attack.
The explosion smashed the door of the office of Reuters across the hallway.
An official at the station said anonymous callers had last week threatened to harm employees and burn the Arabiya office following a tape the station had aired of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the governing Hamas group.
But Hamas denied its involvement and said the attacker sought to jeopardise relations between Hamas and al-Arabiya station.
"(Whoever carried out the attack) wants to use what happened between al-Arabiya and Hamas because Hamas boycotted al-Arabiya station according to what had happened before a few days. But this type of violence is not from Hamas thought and not of Hamas behaviour. Whoever (did this) wants to damage Hamas reputation," Barhom added.
Witnesses said Arabiya employees had not arrived at work for several days.
Hamas had said following the broadcast that Haniyeh's comments were broadcast in a way that took his words out of context and vowed to pursue legal action against the station if it did not apologise to Haniyeh.
Arabiya officials have said it had shown an unedited recording that was taken from a Palestinian Web site. They also allowed an adviser to Haniyeh to go on the air to explain the group's position on the tape.
Hamas and Fatah have been engaged in a power struggle since Hamas won a parliamentary election in January last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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