An ‘angry crowd’ attacked two Belgian journalists in Beirut

Two Belgian journalists were injured while working in downtown Beirut last night. The VRT reports that they were attacked by an “angry mob”.

It concerns journalist Robin Ramaekers and his cameraman Stijn De Smet from the Flemish commercial channel VTM. They were reporting on the Israeli bombing in Beirut.

VRT journalist Jens Franssen describes on Belgian television what happened to his VTM colleagues:

The journalists have now been taken to safety and are receiving medical care. The Flemish public broadcaster writes that Ramaekers has suffered several violations against him. De Smet has a gunshot wound to his leg. according to Latest News Both are doing well under the circumstances.

“Ramekers and his cameraman, together with a negotiator (local correspondent, ed.), wanted to shoot a piece about the impact of the bombs,” said a VRT journalist who was on the scene. crowd against them there. Ramekers and his cameraman were hit. To be clear, they were in a neighborhood where there are many Hezbollah supporters.”

The director of News City, which includes VTM News and Het Laatste Nieuws, says he will do all he can to help the two journalists. There is also communication with their families, director Lataire told VRT.

“The Belgian embassy has also been involved and is guiding our colleagues on the site,” said Lataire. “We are doing everything we can to bring them home as soon as possible. They have our full attention now.”

Ramekers and De Smet were almost certainly close to an Israeli attack op het Basta-Bachoura district. Lebanese officials say the target was a medical aid station. According to the BBC, he was linked to Hezbollah. At least six people were killed and nine people were injured in that attack.

South Beirut was also bombed. “Another sleepless night,” tweeted the Special Envoy to the United Nations in Lebanon Jeanine Hennis. “I am counting the explosions that are shaking the city. There are no air raid sirens. It is just uncertainty for us. There is fear and panic everywhere.”