3 journalists killed in Egypt violence

HereIsTheNews · Aug 15, 2013

3 journalists killed in Egypt violence

Mick Deane, Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz and Ahmed Abdel Gawad, reportedly shot dead

The Associated Press Posted: Aug 14, 2013 9:26 AM ET Last Updated: Aug 14, 2013 10:32 PM ET

Sky News cameraman Mick Deane, 61, was hailed as a Sky News cameraman Mick Deane, 61, was hailed as a "talented and experienced journalist" by the head of the organization. (Sky News)

Three journalists, including a cameraman for British broadcaster Sky News and a Dubai-based newspaper reporter, were killed and several were injured in the violence that erupted in Egypt on Wednesday.

Media watchdogs urged Egypt to investigate all attacks on journalists and to hold those responsible to account, condemning the casualties that occurred after riot police backed by armoured vehicles, bulldozers and helicopters swept away two encampments of supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi.

Scores of people were killed in the violence nationwide.

Sky news said Mick Deane, 61, was shot and wounded while covering the violent breakup of protest camps in the capital, Cairo. It said he was treated for his injuries but died soon after. The rest of the Sky crew was unhurt.

The Gulf News, a state-backed newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, reported on its website that journalist Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, 26, was shot dead near the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo as security forces moved in on a sit-in by Morsi supporters.

The newspaper said she had been on annual leave and was not on assignment at the protest for the XPRESS, a sister publication that she worked for.

Egyptian journalist Ahmed Abdel Gawad, who wrote for the state-run newspaper Al Akhbar, was killed while covering the crackdown at Rabaah al-Adawiya. The Egyptian Press Syndicate, a journalist union, confirmed Gawad's death, though it had no other information about how he was killed.

Sky said Deane had worked for the broadcaster for 15 years in the United States and the Middle East. He was married with two sons.

The broadcaster's news chief, John Ryley, said Deane was "the very best of cameramen, a brilliant journalist and an inspiring mentor to many at Sky," while British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "saddened to hear of the death."

The Gulf News said it spoke to the UAE journalist's younger sister Arwa Ramadan, who confirmed her death.

"My mom spoke to her close to (early morning prayers), but when she called again at 12 noon, there was no response," the sister said. "She called again, and somebody picked up the phone and told her Habiba was dead. My dad, who is in Egypt right now, confirmed it later."

'Journalists are neutral parties in conflicts and should not be the target of violence, regardless of who is perpetrating it.'

—International Press Institute Director Alison Bethel McKenzie

The Gulf News quoted deputy editor Mazhar Farooqui as saying the publication was in shock.

"It's hard to believe she's gone," Farooqui said. "She was passionate about her work and had a promising career ahead."

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was investigating several attacks on journalists and urged Egyptian authorities to "show restraint and allow the media to do their job."

"We call on Egyptian authorities to issue clear orders to security forces to respect the right of journalists to work freely and safely while covering events in Cairo and the rest of the country," said Robert Mahoney, deputy director of the media watchdog.

Journalists 'neutral parties'

The International Press Institute said it had received reports that journalists were being targeted by both sides in the clashes.

"Journalists are neutral parties in conflicts and should not be the target of violence, regardless of who is perpetrating it," IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said. "The Egyptian government must also be held accountable by the international community for any deaths or attacks that deliberately targeted media workers."

Reuters news agency confirmed that photographer Asmaa Waguih had been shot in the foot and is receiving treatment for her bullet wound.

An Associated Press photographer working near the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque during the melee was hit in the back of the neck by two birdshot pellets, said Manoocher Deghati, the AP's Middle East photo editor. The photographer received medical care and later returned to work, Deghati added.

Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera said its cameraman Mohammed al-Zaki were shot in the arm and that two of its correspondents were arrested during the day.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said it had learned of several other injured Egyptian journalists, including Tarek Abbas — a reporter for the Egyptian newspaper Al-Watan who was sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and eye — and photographer Ahmad Najjar who was shot in the arm and had his camera seized.

Lando · Aug 15, 2013

Arrest: Egyptian security forces arrest supporters of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi at Nahda Square in Cairo

Desire · Aug 15, 2013

British cameraman shot dead while reporting for Sky on Egypt bloodbath as protesters say as many as 149 have been killed

Egypt's interim government has imposed a month long state of emergency across the country today
Muslim Brotherhood has claimed that 2,200 have been killed today and more than 5,000 have been injured so far
Many of the group's leaders have been arrested by police in Cairo including Mohammed al-Beltagi
The group has claimed that al-Beltagi's 17-year-old daughter was killed in today's violence
The Egyptian Health Ministry has put the death toll at 149 with 526 injured in a statement this afternoon
Snipers spotted on rooftops close to the two protest camps and reports claim that machine-gun fire has been heard
Violence is said to have spread outside of Cairo to Nile cities of Minya, Assiut and Fayoum where nine have died
Five people were also killed when protestors tried to storm a government building in Suez
It is thought that a church was firebombed and set alight in Minya, some 250km from Cairo
Egyptian vice president Mohamed Elbaradel is reported to have resigned following the outbreak of violence
Travel advice for Britons is changed by Foreign Office, and EU, Iran, Turkey and Germany condemn violence
Foreign Secretary William Hague released a statement condemning the use of force to remove protestors
Tourist sites such as the Pyramids at Giza and branches of the Egyptian Central Bank have been closed today

By JILL REILLY and STEVE NOLAN PUBLISHED: 05:58 GMT, 14 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:27 GMT, 14 August 2013

Sky News cameraman Mick Deane was shot and killed in Cairo this morning as violence erupted

A British cameraman is among at least 149 killed as an operation to clear two camps filled with thousands of protestors loyal to ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi descended into violent chaos.Mick Deane was part of a Sky News team in Egypt reporting on a security force operation to raid the camps in the capital Cairo when violence broke out.

Security forces are said to have opened fire on mostly unarmed protestors with machine guns during the operation which began shortly after 7am local time.Although the total number of dead in the clashes is unconfirmed, burned corpses have been seen on the streets which resemble a war zone.Interim Egyptian leaders have declared a state of emergency and imposed an overnight curfew.
Mr Deane, 61, had worked for Sky for 15 years based in Jerusalem and Washington.Sky head of news John Ryley described his as an 'inspiring mentor to many' and a brilliant journalist. The rest of the Sky team were unharmed.

He said: 'Everyone at Sky News is shocked and saddened by Mick's death. 'He was a talented and experienced journalist who had worked with Sky News for many years. 'The loss of a much-loved colleague will be deeply felt across Sky News. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family. We will give them our full support at this extremely difficult time.'The network's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall called Mick 'a friend, brave as a lion but what a heart… what a human being'.

He added: 'Micky was humorous in a dry way, he was wise and when you're on the road with small teams, people like that are diamonds to be with.'Our hearts go out to his family. He died doing what he'd done so brilliantly for decades.'Father-of-two Mr Deane had been working with Middle East correspondent Sam Kiley when he was shot.He received treatment for his injuries but died soon afterwards, said a Sky News statement. Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter: 'I am saddened to hear of the death of cameraman Mick Deane, covering Egyptian violence.
'My thoughts are with his family and @SkyNews team.'

Violence: A protester comes to the aid of a wounded as security forces clear a sit-in by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in the eastern Nasr City district of Cairo

Battle: Egyptian security forces are said to have opened fire on mostly unarmed protestors in the operation which began shortly after 7am local time

War zone: Although the number of dead is unconfirmed, burned corpses have been seen on the streets which resemble a war zone

Turmoil: The state news agency said security forces were implementing a phased plan to disperse the protesters, which is almost certain to deepen political turmoil in Egypt

A protester carries copies of the Quran as the Egyptian security forces clear the site

Defiant: A handcuffed protester sits on the ground as Egyptian security forces move in

Horror: Screams of terror could be heard as the early crackdown began on the protestors

Black smoke billowed from the scene as the security forces made their way through the camp

Protection: Riot police and army soldiers protect themselves with riot shields as members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi throw stones during clashes around the area of Rabaa Adawiya square

'Saddened': David Cameron tweeted his sorrow over the death of cameraman Mick Deane earlier today

Speaking on a visit to the Commonwealth Games site in Glasgow, Mr Cameron told reporters: 'I want to say how sorry I am about the death of Mick Deane.'It is an incredibly brave and important job he was doing. It is essential that cameramen are in places like Egypt because otherwise none of us would know what is happening. 'But obviously our thoughts should be with his family and friends at this very, very difficult time for them.'The Prime Minister also condemned today's violence in Egypt.

He said: 'Looking more broadly at the situation in Egypt, this violence is not going to solve anything. What is required in Egypt is a genuine transition to a genuine democracy. 'That means compromise from all sides - the President Morsi supporters but also the military - that's what needs to happen. 'We don't support this violence, we condemn it completely, it's not going to solve the problems.' Channel 4 News reporter Matt Frei said on Twitter: 'So shocked and sad to hear that my old friend Mick Deane has been killed in Cairo. Great friend, great cameraman. He survived cancer.'

Fighting back: Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood gesture as Egyptian security forces (unseen) move in to disperse their protest camp

Emergency response: Egyptian forces pull a fire hose as they attempt to clear a sit-in by demonstrators

Anger: Protestors hurl missiles at security forces who came to clear their protest camps in Cairo this morning

Carnage: Debris burns in the street after an operation to remove two camps of Pro-Morsi protestors descended into violence

Riots: Armoured police vans stand by as tents and debris from the camp burn in Cairo

Line-up: Egyptian security forces detain protesters as they clear the sit-in by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi

Inferno: A fire rages in a protest tent at the camp near Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque

Mr Deane was born in Hanover, Germany, and lived in Northamptonshire. He had been stationed in Jerusalem since 2011.The interim Egyptian government has declared a month-long state of emergency across the country this afternoon in response to the trouble. The announcement was made on state television. An overnight curfew from 7pm local time until 6am has been put in place in Cairo and across 10 provinces including Alexandria and Suez but it is doubtful whether protestors will obey that.Vice president Mohamed Elboradel is reported to have resigned following today's trouble.

Medics have been treating scores of injured people wearing gas masks and swimming goggles to protect themselves from tear gas while they work.Security forces are said to be armed with machine guns, M16 rifles and AK47s and are reported to have been firing on crowds. Although the smaller of the two camps was cleared relatively quickly, fierce violence broke out at the larger camp at Rabaa al-Adawiya.The violence is the latest indication that the country could be heading for all out civil war after weeks of clashes between pro-Morsi protestors and security forces following the ousting of the president.

At the biggest camp in northeast Cairo, security forces fired tear gas as police helicopters circled above and army vehicles were stationed nearby.The state news agency said security forces were implementing a phased plan to disperse the protesters.

Crowds: Protestors disperse as tear gas is fired at them by police vehicles

Trouble: Small fires burn on the road as demonstrators are forced from their protest camp

A police vehicle topples from a bridge during trouble in the Egyptian capital earlier today

Terrifying: Protestors throw a police vehicle off a bridge in Cairo earlier today

Falling: Demonstrators watch over the edge of the bridge as the police vehicle plummets to the ground

Horrific: Security forces rush to the aid of one of those hurt when the vehicle went over the bridge

Defiance: A police vehicle lies on its roof after it is pushed off a bridge onto the road below by supporters of ousted President Morsi. The vehicle was full of soldiers

Missiles: A police helicopter is pictured hovering above Cairo, which have been distributing tear gas on protestors from above, left. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood throw stones at riot police during clashes around Cairo University and Nahdet Misr Square, right

3 journalists killed in Egypt violence

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