Mounting unrest creates difficult environment for journalists

A reporter for the website of The National, Abu Dhabi Media’s first English-language publication, who was covering the unrest in Egyptian capital Cairo has been attacked by pro-Maubarak supporters. The site has both photos and audio from Andrew Henson, who was kicked and punched by the crowds and eventually escaped thanks to the Egyptian army.

The photographer and his colleague was lucky to escape with his life after being repeatedly assaulted for attempting to take images of supporters within Tahrir Square. Although he dropped his equipment Andrew was reunited with his camera thanks to a member of the military at a nearby compound.

At times of such conflict it’s easy to forget the danger media representatives put themselves in, with nothing more than a press pass for protection and the hope that any information gained, be it words, pictures or video, is worth the potential harm.

For Andrew’s full account head to http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/the-nationals-photographer-attacked-in-cairo