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Gunmen raid Sri Lanka TV station | Gunmen raid Sri Lanka TV station |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Gunmen armed with grenades have ransacked offices of the largest private TV broadcaster in Sri Lanka. | Gunmen armed with grenades have ransacked offices of the largest private TV broadcaster in Sri Lanka. |
The attack near Colombo followed some criticism in state media of the MBC group's coverage of recent army gains against Tamil Tiger rebels. | The attack near Colombo followed some criticism in state media of the MBC group's coverage of recent army gains against Tamil Tiger rebels. |
More than a dozen intruders held guards at gunpoint and shot up equipment, causing extensive damage. | More than a dozen intruders held guards at gunpoint and shot up equipment, causing extensive damage. |
The media minister condemned the attack and said the president had ordered a full investigation. | The media minister condemned the attack and said the president had ordered a full investigation. |
Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of recent attacks and media freedom groups say intimidation and violence make it one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report. | Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of recent attacks and media freedom groups say intimidation and violence make it one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report. |
The latest attack follows army gains against the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country. | The latest attack follows army gains against the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country. |
The rebels' de facto capital of Kilinochchi fell last Friday and troops are on the outskirts of the strategic Elephant Pass that links the mainland to the Jaffna peninsula. | The rebels' de facto capital of Kilinochchi fell last Friday and troops are on the outskirts of the strategic Elephant Pass that links the mainland to the Jaffna peninsula. |
US condemnation | US condemnation |
The attack on the MTV studios, run by the MBC group, took place in the early hours of Tuesday. | The attack on the MTV studios, run by the MBC group, took place in the early hours of Tuesday. |
It's either that the citizens of Sri Lanka are able to drive around attacking institutions armed with weapons and grenades, or there is a hand behind it Chevaan Daniel, MTV Ruined remains of rebel 'capital'Key loss will test Tamil TigersQ&A: Sri Lanka crisis | |
Guards were forced to take the attackers to the main control room, where equipment was destroyed with gunfire. | Guards were forced to take the attackers to the main control room, where equipment was destroyed with gunfire. |
Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said the attackers were unknown but there would be a thorough investigation. | Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said the attackers were unknown but there would be a thorough investigation. |
Rights activists said there had been criticism of the way the organisation's three television stations and four radio channels had covered the recent army victories. | Rights activists said there had been criticism of the way the organisation's three television stations and four radio channels had covered the recent army victories. |
Some state media at the weekend said it gave too much coverage of a Tamil Tiger suicide attack that followed the fall of Kilinochchi. | Some state media at the weekend said it gave too much coverage of a Tamil Tiger suicide attack that followed the fall of Kilinochchi. |
Nationalist politicians in the past have accused the group of sympathising with the rebels. | Nationalist politicians in the past have accused the group of sympathising with the rebels. |
When asked who carried out the attack, MTV head Chevaan Daniel told Reuters news agency: "It's either that the citizens of Sri Lanka are able to drive around attacking institutions armed with weapons and grenades, or there is a hand behind it." | |
Susil Kindelpitiya, a news director on one of MTV's channels, said the attack was due to "our unbiased reporting". | Susil Kindelpitiya, a news director on one of MTV's channels, said the attack was due to "our unbiased reporting". |
The US embassy said in a statement that it "deplores this latest in a series of criminal attacks on the independent media in Sri Lanka". | The US embassy said in a statement that it "deplores this latest in a series of criminal attacks on the independent media in Sri Lanka". |
Amnesty International said in November that at least 10 media employees had been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006. | Amnesty International said in November that at least 10 media employees had been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006. |
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