Trump supporter launches 'incredibly violent attack' on BBC cameraman at El Paso rally
A supporter of Donald Trump stormed the press platform and attacked a BBC cameraman at the president’s rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday.
Gary O’Donoghue, the Washington correspondent for the British public service broadcaster, described the attack on his cameraman Ron Skeans as “incredibly violent.” O’Donoghue shared footage of the “shameful moment” on Twitter:
This is the shameful moment when my cameraman Ron Skeans was attacked at an @realDonaldTrump rally in El Paso last night - warning this video contains strong language. Happily Ron is fine. #TrumpElPasopic.twitter.com/Ay5DYT6gjP
— Gary O'Donoghue (@BBCBlindGazza) February 12, 2019
The BBC reports the unidentified Trump supporter twice almost knocked Skeans and his camera over as he “shoved and swore” at other members of the press and yelled “f**k the media” before security escorted him away.
“Fortunately our cameraman is fine, he is made of stern stuff,” O’Donoghue told the “Today” program on BBC Radio 4. He called it “an incredibly violent attack” and said the “goading of the crowds against the media” is “a constant feature” of Trump’s rallies.
O’Donoghue also live-tweeted the attack as it unfolded:
BBC Cameraaman shoved by member of the Trump crowd who some how got onto the media riser - shameof security - he is fortunately ok
— Gary O'Donoghue (@BBCBlindGazza) February 12, 2019
Security now removed Trump crowd member who pushed and shoved my cameraman - having jumped onto the Media platform here in El Paso - pretestor tried to smash our camera - follows multiple attacks on the media by the President and previous speakers - it's shameful
— Gary O'Donoghue (@BBCBlindGazza) February 12, 2019
Trump says "is there any place more fun to be than a Trump rally" - well I can say it's no fun for me and my team - Cameraman Ron Skeans and Producer Eleanor Montague facing a protestor shoving Ron and trying to smash his camera
— Gary O'Donoghue (@BBCBlindGazza) February 12, 2019
“The president could see the incident and checked with us that all was okay,” the BBC said in a statement. “It is clearly unacceptable for any of our staff to be attacked for doing their job.”
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The BBC’s Washington news editor, Eleanor Montague, said Trump had whipped the crowd “into a frenzy against the media” prior to the attack.
Just attended my first @realDonaldTrump rally where my colleague BBC cameraman Rob Skeans was attacked by a Trump supporter. The crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy against the media by Trump and other speakers all night #TrumpElPasopic.twitter.com/Oiw8osPms3
— Eleanor Montague (@EleanorMontague) February 12, 2019
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
