Protesters storm TV channel office in Iraq
Published: 08:10 AM,Oct 20,2024 | EDITED : 12:10 PM,Oct 20,2024
Baghdad - Protesters ransacked offices affiliated with a Saudi TV channel in Baghdad early Saturday, two security sources said, after the broadcaster aired a report referring to commanders of some groups as terrorists.
After midnight, between 400 and 500 people attacked the studios of a production company in Baghdad that works for the Saudi broadcaster MBC.
'They wrecked the electronic equipment, the computers, and set fire to a part of the building,' an interior ministry source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said the fire had been extinguished and the crowd dispersed by police.
'Security forces are still deployed near the building,' he added. There were no immediate reports of arrests. On Saturday morning, a large police presence remained in the area, blocking access to the site, according to an AFP photographer.
'The demonstrators arrived at the offices before reinforcements of riot police were sent in,' a police source told AFP, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
The second source confirmed that the offices had been 'set on fire' and 'badly ransacked'.
- 'Insulting resistance leaders' - Excerpts from an MBC program had been making the rounds on Iraqi social media, sparking angry reactions.
After midnight, between 400 and 500 people attacked the studios of a production company in Baghdad that works for the Saudi broadcaster MBC.
'They wrecked the electronic equipment, the computers, and set fire to a part of the building,' an interior ministry source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said the fire had been extinguished and the crowd dispersed by police.
'Security forces are still deployed near the building,' he added. There were no immediate reports of arrests. On Saturday morning, a large police presence remained in the area, blocking access to the site, according to an AFP photographer.
'The demonstrators arrived at the offices before reinforcements of riot police were sent in,' a police source told AFP, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
The second source confirmed that the offices had been 'set on fire' and 'badly ransacked'.
- 'Insulting resistance leaders' - Excerpts from an MBC program had been making the rounds on Iraqi social media, sparking angry reactions.