Journalist Bel Trew, covering protests in Port Said, Egypt, was exposed to U.S.-manufactured tear gas this evening.
She sarcastically tweeted, “Thanks Obama.”
This was the chaotic scene in which Trew found herself earlier:
Fuck angry group mobbing us as we try to go live at front line of #PortSaid. Gas canisters landing next to us. People pissed
— Bel Trew (@Beltrew) March 7, 2013
40 angry guys surrounded me, as I'm trying to put earpiece in w/gas canisters landing& gunfire. We're at the front line. Madness #PortSaid
— Bel Trew (@Beltrew) March 7, 2013
Big push from police,stampede as people flee gas&bullets,protesters fear camera'll make police target them.Ambulances rush 2front #PortSaid
— Bel Trew (@Beltrew) March 7, 2013
I'm fine but that was a bad moment.Blinded by camera light trying 2hold a microphone,40 ppl mobbing me,gas &gunfire on frontline #PortSaid
— Bel Trew (@Beltrew) March 7, 2013
Steady stream of tear gas,people pushed back. Can confirm tear gas can't work out other weapons too dark to make anything out #PortSaid
— Bel Trew (@Beltrew) March 7, 2013
She found the unexploded tear gas canister a bit later.
Last month, Egypt Independent reported that Egypt had imported 140,000 canisters of tear gas from the United States.
Amnesty International has urged the US to stop exporting tear gas to Egypt.
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