Taliban claim responsibility for attack on Samaa van

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 February 2017

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has confirmed their involvement in the attack on a Samaa TV van that resulted in the death of a cameraman. This incident occurs amidst rising threats against journalists in the area.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Monday claimed responsibility for an attack on Samaa TV van that left its assistant cameraman Taimoor Abbas dead.

According to Daily Pakistan, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani in a statement said: "The media is not impartial and we've issued several warnings to them."

The media van was in the Chowrangi area of Karachi to cover a cracker attack on a police vehicle, which occurred minutes before it was attacked by unidentified gunmen.

"Our team members along with the DSNG had gone there to cover the cracker attack on the police vehicle when they came under attack," said Farhan Malik, Samaa TV's director news.

Days before the attack, TTP splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar released a video threatening journalists. Following the release of the video, various journalist groups announced protests across the country. A rally was also planned outside the National Press Club, Islamabad.

Reacting to the incident, Inter-Services Public Relations said the killing of the assistant cameraman was a sad incident. "Share the grief of Media, SAMAA and Taimoor's family," ISPR Direcot-General Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor tweeted. - Agencies/Image: AFP

KEY POINTS:

• TTP claimed responsibility for the attack on Samaa TV van.
• Assistant cameraman Taimoor Abbas was killed in the attack.
• The van was targeted while covering an earlier attack on police.
• A warning video was released by a TTP splinter group prior to the incident.
• Journalist groups are mobilizing protests across Pakistan.