A group of armed men on motorbikes pursued César Pérez and attempted to seize his camera when he was covering the alleged kidnapping of a regional government representative.
(IPYS-Venezuela/IFEX) – On 17 June 2011, a group of armed men on motorbikes, most of whom wore masks, chased “El Carabobeño” newspaper photographer César Pérez and attempted to grab his camera when he was covering the alleged kidnapping of a regional government representative by individuals from the Central University of Venezuela’s (UCV) Aragua Nucleus, in Maracay, Aragua state, central Venezuela.
The armed men burst into a meeting of teachers, students and university workers who were calling for certain demands to be met. The motor bikers used their firearms to destroy some areas of the university campus in an apparent attempt to rescue the public official, who was allegedly being held against his will after negotiations failed.
The armed men began to chase Pérez, who was with reporter Marianela Agreda, when they realized he was taking photographs of their actions. They attempted to seize his camera but the photographer managed to escape and hide in a laboratory. Agreda, on the other hand, was left in the middle of an area where shooting was taking place but she also managed to take shelter.
In the end, the journalists received protection from the students.
