Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Camera operator fired after videos show her 'tripping and kicking' refugees in Hungarian village of Roszke

Petra László has been dismissed from N1TV

Kashmira Gander
Tuesday 08 September 2015 18:22 EDT
Comments
A refugee carrying a child falls after tripping on a TV camera operator while trying to escape from a collection point in Roszke village
A refugee carrying a child falls after tripping on a TV camera operator while trying to escape from a collection point in Roszke village (Reuters)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A camera operator for a Hungarian TV station with links to the right-wing Jobbik party has been fired, after she was filmed appearing to kick and trip refugees running from police officers on the border hotspot of Rőszke.

Footage of the frantic scene shows refugees screaming and fleeing across a field as officers chase after them.

As a man clutching a young child runs past N1TV camera operator Petra László, she appears to put her leg out in front of the pair, causing them to trip over.

The man then shouts at Ms László in apparent disbelief.

A refugee carrying a child falls runs past Ms László (Image: REUTERS/Marko Djurica)
A refugee carrying a child falls runs past Ms László (Image: REUTERS/Marko Djurica) (REUTERS/Marko Djurica)

The refugee falls to the ground (Image: REUTERS/Marko Djurica)
The refugee falls to the ground (Image: REUTERS/Marko Djurica) (Reuters)

Read more:
How Europe's lack of unity over refugee crisis could break up the EU
Angela Merkel's coalition 'sent wrong message to outside world'
EU to vote through refugee quota plan

The clip of the incident was shared on Twitter by Stephan Richter, a reporter for the German television channel RTL, and was retweeted over 1,000 times.

In a separate video of the scene at Rőszke published by the Index Hungarian news website, Ms László appears to kick refugee children.

A Facebook group condemning Ms László called The Petra László Wall of Shame has since been created in the hours following the incident.

N1TV has since confirmed that it has dismissed Ms László due to “unacceptable behaviour”.

The channel’s editor in chief Szabolcs Kisberk said in a statement posted on the station’s website see by The Guardian: “The camerawoman’s employment has today been terminated with immediate effect, the case is now closed for us.”

In response to the videos, the Együtt-PM and the Democratic Forum opposition parties have pledged to initiate charges of violence against a member of the community against Ms László, according to The Guardain. If found guilty, Ms László could spend five years in prison.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in