Egypt: ABC News Reporter Brian Hartman Threatened With Beheading

[cali]

Attacks on Foreign Press Growing During Egyptian Uprising

By MARK MOONEY
Feb. 3, 2011

A group of angry Egyptian men carjacked an ABC News crew and threatened to behead them today in the latest and most menacing attack on foreign reporters trying to cover the anti-government uprising.


Producer Brian Hartman, cameraman Akram Abi-hanna and two other ABC News employees were surrounded on a crowded road that leads from Cairo's airport to the city's downtown area.

While ABC News and other press agencies had been taking precautions to avoid volatile situations, the road to the airport had been a secure route until today. One of their two vehicles was carrying cameras and transmission equipment strapped to the roof, indicating they were foreign journalists.

Hartman says it was only through the appeal of Abi-hanna, who is Lebanese and a veteran ABC cameraman, that they were saved from being killed or severely beaten.

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http://abcnews.go.com/International/abc-reporter-threatened-beheading-covering-egypt-uprising/story?id=12832774

[brooklynite]

1. Maybe the thugs didn't get the memo...

...that the boss was going to be on the network that night?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. How terrifying!

I hope this won't have a chilling effect on those brave men, or on any other reporters who are trying to bring us the truth about this revolution...

[cali]

5. that is a definite concern

[blogslut]

3. kick

words, however, fail me

[gateley]

4. Do you suppose the Networks will put pressure on the administration to DO

something? All of the networks have been detained/attacked/threatened/equipment confiscated -- not all happened to each network, but they've all been targeted. I imagine the Networks are furious.

[leftynyc]

6. Can the networks hire security?

Is that allowable?

[riderinthestorm]

7. Words fail me too. Keep safe brave souls! K&R! nt