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| Hungarian camerawoman filmed kicking and tripping up refugees says 'something snapped' | Hungarian camerawoman filmed kicking and tripping up refugees says 'something snapped' |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Hungarian camerawoman filmed kicking and tripping over refugees has defended her actions by claiming that she was frightened and “something snapped”. | The Hungarian camerawoman filmed kicking and tripping over refugees has defended her actions by claiming that she was frightened and “something snapped”. |
| Petra László was fired with immediate effect when the footage emerged and could face criminal charges for breach of the peace. | Petra László was fired with immediate effect when the footage emerged and could face criminal charges for breach of the peace. |
| In a letter to right-wing newspaper Magyar Nemzet, she said she “sincerely regretted what happened” and had been in shock ever since the incident in Roszke on Tuesday. | In a letter to right-wing newspaper Magyar Nemzet, she said she “sincerely regretted what happened” and had been in shock ever since the incident in Roszke on Tuesday. |
| “The camera was shooting, hundreds of migrants broke through the police cordon, one of them rushed to me and I was scared,” Ms László wrote. | “The camera was shooting, hundreds of migrants broke through the police cordon, one of them rushed to me and I was scared,” Ms László wrote. |
| “Then something snapped in me. With the camera in my hand I didn't see who was actually running towards me. | “Then something snapped in me. With the camera in my hand I didn't see who was actually running towards me. |
| “I just felt I was being attacked and I had to protect myself. | “I just felt I was being attacked and I had to protect myself. |
| “It’s hard to make good decisions at a time when everyone is panicking and hundreds of people are running towards you. | “It’s hard to make good decisions at a time when everyone is panicking and hundreds of people are running towards you. |
| “In that moment, my judgement failed.” | |
| Footage showed Ms László among several journalists in a field as hundreds of refugees broke through, being chased by police. | Footage showed Ms László among several journalists in a field as hundreds of refugees broke through, being chased by police. |
| As a man carrying a toddler, broke free from an officer and ran towards her, she can be seen sticking out her leg. | As a man carrying a toddler, broke free from an officer and ran towards her, she can be seen sticking out her leg. |
| Footage of a separate incident on the same day shows her kicking a young girl trying to run past with her family. | Footage of a separate incident on the same day shows her kicking a young girl trying to run past with her family. |
| Ms László was working for online television channel N1TV, which is said to have links to Hungary’s far-right Jobbik Party. Its website was down on Friday. | |
| The channel’s editor in chief Szabolcs Kisberk said in a statement: “The camerawoman’s employment has today been terminated with immediate effect, the case is now closed for us.” | The channel’s editor in chief Szabolcs Kisberk said in a statement: “The camerawoman’s employment has today been terminated with immediate effect, the case is now closed for us.” |
| In her letter Ms László described herself as “an unemployed mother with small children, who made a bad decision in a panicked situation”. | In her letter Ms László described herself as “an unemployed mother with small children, who made a bad decision in a panicked situation”. |
| She said she did not deserve the “political witch hunt, smears or many death threats” levelled at her since the footage spread online. | She said she did not deserve the “political witch hunt, smears or many death threats” levelled at her since the footage spread online. |
| “I’m not a heartless, racist, children-kicking camerawoman,” she wrote. “I am truly sorry.” | “I’m not a heartless, racist, children-kicking camerawoman,” she wrote. “I am truly sorry.” |
| Several politicians and many ordinary Hungarians have sought to distance themselves from her actions as the country continues to be criticised for its efforts to prevent refugees entering Europe. | Several politicians and many ordinary Hungarians have sought to distance themselves from her actions as the country continues to be criticised for its efforts to prevent refugees entering Europe. |
| More than 36,000 people have joined a Facebook group called the Petra László Shame Wall, where she has been condemned as a “disgrace”. | More than 36,000 people have joined a Facebook group called the Petra László Shame Wall, where she has been condemned as a “disgrace”. |
| “Not all Hungarians are like Petra László,” a post said. “Please do not be angry at Hungary…the majority of Hungarians believe in tolerance and freedom!” | “Not all Hungarians are like Petra László,” a post said. “Please do not be angry at Hungary…the majority of Hungarians believe in tolerance and freedom!” |
| Administrators of the group claimed the middle-aged man carrying a toddler who was tripped up by Ms László was a Syrian football coach who had been imprisoned and tortured by Isis but managed to escape the country with his young son. | Administrators of the group claimed the middle-aged man carrying a toddler who was tripped up by Ms László was a Syrian football coach who had been imprisoned and tortured by Isis but managed to escape the country with his young son. |
| This newspaper has started a campaign for the UK to welcome a fair share of refugees. | This newspaper has started a campaign for the UK to welcome a fair share of refugees. |
| Click here to sign The Independent's petition | Click here to sign The Independent's petition |
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