An ABC News crew in Ukraine revealed details of its harrowing encounter with gunmen on Wednesday.
Correspondent Muhammad Lila and producer Matt McGarry were at a police station in Mariupol, Ukraine, when gunmen started firing at an angry crowd. Members of the news crew — who said they are now safe — were forced to the ground and held at gunpoint.
Lila, who said he later learned the gunmen were Ukrainian troops, tweeted,
McGarry also described moments from the incident,
Ukraine has become increasingly dangerous for journalists, who are covering the conflict between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists. Just last week, militants detained CBS reporter Clarissa Ward and her news crew, BuzzFeed's Mike Giglio and reporters from Sky News. The journalists were stopped at a checkpoint and held, blindfolded and interrogated for three hours.
Correspondent Muhammad Lila and producer Matt McGarry were at a police station in Mariupol, Ukraine, when gunmen started firing at an angry crowd. Members of the news crew — who said they are now safe — were forced to the ground and held at gunpoint.
Lila, who said he later learned the gunmen were Ukrainian troops, tweeted,
Just held at gunpoint, forced to ground, by Ukrainian ETF/Swat team. Guy telling us "Go back to Russia" Beat up guy next to us. We're fine.
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) May 7, 2014Ended up lying on ground/each other, hands in air, hoping gunmen had enough discipline to not shoot. They didn't, thankfully, not at us.
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) May 7, 2014Gunmen at police bldg just seconds before shooting. Behind in bushes, sniper who aimed at me + my cameraman. pic.twitter.com/6gGNuub9HL
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) May 7, 2014McGarry also described moments from the incident,
Suddenly reinforcements drive up. All in black, balaclavas, guns blazing. Shooting just over heads. Terrifying. #Mariupol #Ukraine
— Matt McGarry (@mattmcgarry) May 7, 2014Black-clad soldier shouting "faces in the dirt!" "You want to go to Russia? Then go!!" Pointing gun muzzle at us. #Mariupol #Ukraine
— Matt McGarry (@mattmcgarry) May 7, 2014Ukraine has become increasingly dangerous for journalists, who are covering the conflict between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists. Just last week, militants detained CBS reporter Clarissa Ward and her news crew, BuzzFeed's Mike Giglio and reporters from Sky News. The journalists were stopped at a checkpoint and held, blindfolded and interrogated for three hours.