Reuters said one of its television crews was beaten up early today close to Tahrir Square while filming a piece about shops and banks being forced to shut during the clashes. David Degner, a Cairo-based photographer, said five of his journalist friends has been "beaten and had their equipment confiscated" as clashes between the two groups escalated.
Press freedom groups warn that reporting on the Egyptian uprising is becoming increasingly perilous as the number of journalists injured and arrested continues to rise.
"Starting yesterday we saw a surge phase in attacks against journalists," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, the Committee to Protect Journalists' Middle East and North Africa programme co-ordinator. "This is like a return to the first phase, before the censorship, but far more violent and universal. They are now targeting anybody with a camera, notepad, anybody interviewing people – anyone will get violently attacked, anyone they could get their hands on. If you're a journalist in Egypt at this late stage in the game, they don't care if you're from Mars – they're going to come after you."
That's from the Guardian -- which also reports that journalists aren't even being allowed to leave their hotel.
Jonathan Rugman, Channel 4 News's foreign correspondent, tweeted earlier today: "One journalist punched in face, another stabbed in leg by pro-Mubarak thugs in Cairo this morning. On their way to hospital now."
Jon Snow, the broadcaster's chief news anchor, added: "Media hotel [is] suffering Mubarak thugs attacking all our attempts to get out to report."
