US to investigate police attack on Channel 7 news crew

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has responded to reports of a violent police attack on a Channel 7 reporter and her cameraman during the George Floyd protests.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the State Department will do its best to investigate the police beating of a Seven Network reporter and cameraman outside the White House.

Amelia Brace and Tim Myers were broadcasting live back to Australia last week during the Sunrise TV program when US Park Police aggressively cleared demonstrators out of Washington DC’s Lafayette Square so President Donald Trump could pose for photos outside a church holding a bible.

Ms Brace was struck with a truncheon, Tim Myers was punched and hit with a riot shield and both were hit with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Seven News reporter Amelia Brace after her cameraman were pushed over by riot police at a protest in Washington DC. Picture: Sunrise

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had asked the Australian Ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, to look into what took place.

“I know there have been concerns from some countries of their reporters having been treated inappropriately here,” Mr Pompeo told reporters in Washington DC on Wednesday.

“We’ve seen some of those allegations come into the State Department. “You should know, those countries should know, we will handle them in a completely appropriate way.

“We will do our best to investigate them to the extent the State Department is capable of doing that and we will address them in a way that is appropriate to try to address any concerns those nations may have about their journalists, who we, too, do our level best to protect.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the State Department will do its best to investigate the police beating of a Seven Network reporter and cameraman outside the White House. Picture: AFP

Lafayette Square was packed with demonstrators following the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Mr Pompeo rejected comparisons between American authorities’ tough tactics with media members to tactics used by China in Hong Kong.

Seven’s director of news and public affairs Craig McPherson described the police actions as “nothing short of wanton thuggery”.

WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS POLICE

Two US police officers have been placed on administrative leave after a Seven Network journalist and cameraman were beaten at a rally outside the White House.

Amelia Brace was struck by a truncheon and Tim Myers punched and hit with a shield when US Park Police in riot gear aggressively cleared Washington DC’s Lafayette Square of protesters on Monday ahead of a visit to a church by US President Donald Trump.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who compared Mr Trump’s walk to the church to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill examining bomb damaged London in World War II, defended the actions of the police.

“As is consistent with our established practices and procedures, two US Park Police officers have been assigned to administrative duties, while an investigation takes place regarding the incident with the Australian Press,” Park Police acting Chief Gregory Monahan said.

A screen-capture taken from video showing Network Seven cameraman Tim Myers and reporter Amelia Brace as they were assaulted by police officers. Picture: ABC 7 News

A rally was held in the park demanding justice for Floyd, the Minneapolis man who died during a police arrest last week.

Ms McEnany rejected that and said the police had “a right to defend themselves”.

“No tear gas was used and no rubber bullets were used,” Ms McEnany said.

When a reporter countered by asking if “chemical agents were used” she replied: “So, again, no tear gas was used, no rubber bullets were used”.

Ms McEnany said the protesters in the park were told three times over loudspeakers they needed to move, became unruly and threw bricks and frozen water bottles at police.

“The officers had no other choice than, in that moment, to act and make sure that they were safe and that the perimeter was pushed back,” she said. After the park was cleared on Monday evening Mr Trump, holding a bible, joined Attorney General William Barr, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other administration officials for a walk through the park and a photo opportunity in front of St John’s Episcopal Church.

Ms McEnany said Mr Trump visited the church, which was targeted in an arson attack on Sunday, “to send a very powerful message”.

“Like Churchill, we saw him inspecting the bombing damage; it sent a powerful message of leadership to the British people,” she said.

“And George W Bush throwing out the ceremonial first pitch after 9/11. “And Jimmy Carter, putting on a sweater to encourage energy savings. “And George HW Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act, flanked by two disabled Americans.”

HOW THE ATTACK UNFOLDED

Ms Brace and her cameraman Mr Myers were in a large crowd that was cleared with tear gas, rubber bullets and police with riot shields, in the period leading up to Mr Trump’s speech.

Brace was in the middle of a live-cross when she detailed the chaos when the pair were assaulted again.

“We’ve been fired at with rubber bullets, my cameraman has been hit, we’ve also seen tear gas being used,” Brace said.

At this point the crowd started moving as they were pushed back again and a black clad-officer punched his fist into the camera Myers was holding.

Afterwards, Brace appeared back on camera where she said: “You heard us yelling there that we were media but they don’t care.

“They are being indiscriminate at the moment.

“They do not care who they are targeting at the moment.”

Another officer then directed them away from the area while they were sitting and standing against a wall.

In moving them on, the police appeared to strike Brace in the back with their baton.

“We were trying to move on, the last thing we ever want is to get in the way, but there was just no opportunity,” she said.

The moment Seven News reporter Amelia Brace after her cameraman were pushed over by riot police. Picture: Supplied

“There was no escape at that moment. The police were coming through so quickly that there was nowhere for us to go.

“There was no choice but for us to hide in that corner and hope they would pass by.

“As you saw in those pictures, they did not.”

When Sunrise co-hosts Samantha Armytage and David Koch asked how she was in a later live-cross, she said: “We’re not too bad, it’s actually the tear gas that gets you.

“As I tried to continue speaking to you (during the earlier live cross), I could barely breathe and it’s really hard to continue speaking during that.

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“I also got a rubber bullet to the backside, and Tim got one at the back of the neck – we’ll have a few bruises tomorrow.”

Trump spent only a few minutes outside the church after walking through Lafayette Park, which has been overrun with protesters for the past three days.

Surrounded by heavy security, and accompanied by members of his cabinet and family, Mr Trump strode through the area that had moments been cleared of protesters to examine the damage to the boarded-up church.

“We have a great country,” he said, holding a bible and smiling for a photo with his inner circle.

Mr Morrison spoke with Mr Trump, before learning of the incident involving the Australian media.

On that call Mr Trump invited Australia to join this year’s postponed G7 summit and Mr Morrison accepted.

The leaders also discussed the mass protests and civil unrest across the US, agreeing efforts should be taken to resolve the distressing situation peacefully.

PM’S WARNING AS AUSSIE TV REPORTERS ATTACKED

Mr Morrison has urged Australians taking part in global anti-racism protests to exercise extreme caution as local TV news crews have been attacked overseas.

“Already we have had to provide support for those in the media sector, for journalists who have found themselves in those situations, and of course we will continue to provide that support,” Mr Morrison said.

“But I would urge people to be extremely cautious.

“These are dangerous situations and people should exercise great care in where they’re placing themselves.” Mr Floyd’s death has renewed focus on Australia’s systemic mistreatment of Aboriginal people, including hundreds of deaths in custody and disproportionate prison rates.

The prime minister said Australia did not need to copy the United States. He acknowledged people had a right to protest but said “we don’t need to draw equivalence here”.

“Australia has its own challenges when it comes to some of the issues that have been raised and we’ll continue to work on those,” Mr Morrison said. “I’ve met regularly with the peak indigenous groups in Australia and we’re making good progress.

“These are important issues that are taken seriously by my government and by governments all around the country.”

He told people protesting in Australia to practice social distancing.

His comments come after a second Channel 9 reporter has had an on-air scare just hours after the network’s Europe Correspondent was grabbed by a man allegedly armed with a screwdriver.

Nine reporter Ben Avery and his camera operator Cade Thompson were forced to outrun an angry mob after they were confronted while on the air. Picture: Channel 9

Nine reporter Ben Avery and his camera operator Cade Thompson were forced to outrun an angry mob after they were confronted while on the air in London.

Avery said they realised they were in trouble when a group surrounded them.

They tried to walk away but the danger followed them into an underground tunnel. One of the mob snatched his microphone and Avery said there was quickly “dozens of these protesters just chasing after us down the road”.

The news crew’s security guard dropped behind and was swallowed by the mob.

“He was taking on about, I think, 15 people at one stage,” Avery said.

He and Thompson bolted towards a large group of police outside Parliament House and they helped get the security guard to safety.

Avery says all are ok, but he’s nursing a sore face after being hit in the head by a flying bottle as he fled.

“It can turn quickly and it can turn no matter how many police are around, we came to learn,” he said.

“It felt like there was a police officer for every single protester there at that stage but it didn’t make much difference.”

The incident came just hours after Channel 9’s Europe Correspondent Sophie Walsh was assaulted live on air after a man allegedly armed with a screwdriver grabbed her during a live broadcast from London.

The network’s Europe Correspondent, was broadcasting live to Adelaide at 6pm about protests in the wake of Minneapolis man George Floyd’s death when she began screaming.

Sophie Walsh was on a live cross to Adelaide from London when she was attacked. Picture: Nine News

Reporter Sophie Walsh said she was not harmed but was still shaken by the incident. Picture: Twitter

The attack was not filmed but Walsh was clearly shaken in the live audio feed.

“Sorry, I just … I just had someone come up and try and … yeah. A man just came up and grabbed me. He’s not armed. A man just came up and grabbed me though,” she said.

The network reported that the man shouted “Allahu Akbar” while making stabbing motions before he was chased down by cameraman Jason Conduit.

Walsh was unharmed in the incident.

She later told Nine: “This random guy grabbed me from behind ... He started punching me, the only way I can describe it is sort of stabby motions.

“He had a hand in his pocket. I thought: ‘Does he have a knife and will he start stabbing us all?’.”

Walsh wasn’t on camera at the time but the terror was evident in her screams.

“I don’t think anyone knows the sound of their true scream until they’re in a situation like that where they feel like it’s a life or death scenario,” she said.

She praised her camera operator Jason Conduit, who armed himself with a light stand, chased the man and detained him until police arrived. Officers found the man had a screwdriver. He’s now been charged with threats to kill and possessing an offensive weapon.

Thank you for your messages. The man has been arrested for threats to kill and carrying a weapon. I’m shaken but ok. Big thanks to my incredible camerman Jason Conduit who chased him down armed with a light stand and got him arrested. https://t.co/YRxrUB3j4l

— Sophie Walsh (@sophie_walsh9) June 3, 2020

“Nine News appreciates the enormous pressure our international correspondents are under and is offering Sophie Walsh ongoing support,” Nine said in a statement.

“Sophie is grateful for the outpouring of support she has received from the public and wishes to reassure our viewers that she is safe and well.”

The man is restrained by British police. Picture: Twitter

PROBE INTO ATTACK ON AUSSIE JOURNALISTS

An investigation has been launched against police for the attack on Australian journalists outside of the White House.

Journalists have been shot with rubber bullets and tear gas, sprayed with capsicum spray and arrested in the street, even after repeatedly declaring themselves as press.

The US Press Freedom Tracker, managed by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, has revealed it has received more than a year’s worth of claims of attacks and other press freedom violations in a week.

Speaking to Time, Kristen McCudden, managing editor of the US Press Freedom Tracker said more than 190 claims of violations to press freedom had been made between May 25 and June 2.

On average, the tracker usually documents 100 to 150 claims per year.

“It’s a scale that we have not seen before,” she said “It’s unprecedented in scope without a doubt.”

Claims range from physical assault, arrest, damage or seizure of equipment, and several other additional criteria. The physical assault category is confronting – 45 physical attacks (30 by police); 30 tear gassings; 17 pepper sprayings; and 46 assaults with rubber bullet/projectiles.

Included in the latest video footage is the assault of an Australian news crew outside the White House, which has prompted an official police complaint.

Other media seen under fire on the video included a CNN film crew that came under attack from police with tear gas and rubber bullets; and a VICE reporter who was sprayed in the face with pepper spray several times, even as he lay on the ground, repeatedly saying ‘I am press’.

US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos said in a statement he understood Seven was making a “formal police complaint”.

“We are in discussion with the State Department and they have offered assistance to identify where the complaint should be targeted,” Mr Sinodinis said in the statement, released Tuesday, local time.

“As Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, emphasised overnight, Australia is always supportive of people’s right to peaceful protest and we encourage all involved to exercise restraint and to avoid violence.”

Mr Sinodinis earlier responded to footage of police assaulting a Seven News crew outside the White House, saying “freedom of the press is a right Australians and Americans hold dear”.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr said mistreatment of journalists was taken seriously.

A statement from Ambassador Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. pic.twitter.com/EW5aPaptjE

— US Embassy Canberra (@USAembassyinOZ) June 2, 2020

Originally published as US to investigate police attack on Channel 7 news crew