Anderson Cooper Attacked By Protesters in Egypt

By John Mitchell Posted Feb 2nd 2011 10:45AM

Anderson Cooper and his crew were attacked by supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo early Wednesday, according to the Huffington Post. CNN Coverage Manager Steve Brusk tweeted that Cooper "was punched 10 times in the head as pro-Mubarak mob surrounded him and his crew trying to cover demonstration."

Cooper was covering dueling demonstrations between pro-Mubarak supporters and those calling for the president to be removed from office when he and his crew came under attack. No major injuries were reported, and the anchor spoke to CNN's 'American Morning' early Wednesday about the attack. "My team were set upon by the crowd," Cooper said via satellite from a Cairo hotel. "There was no rhyme or reason to it -- it was just people looking for a fight, looking to make a point and punching us."

"They at first started going for the cameras; they didn't want any pictures taken," Cooper said. "The crowd kept growing, kept throwing punches, kicks ... suddenly a young man would look at you and punch you in the face."

CNN issued an update this morning indicating there were no serious injuries sustained during the attack. Cooper and his crew had been trying to steer clear of the protesters by remaining in a neutral zone between the two groups. But as the size of the crowd increased, the situation became less stable, resulting in violence between the two factions in the increasingly unstable country.

"Anderson Cooper witnessed a huge crowd of Mubarak supporters surge across a no-man's land dividing them from the anti-Mubarak crowd and overturn a military vehicle on the street as a huge roar went up. A large cloud of smoke arose at the east entrance to Tahrir Square," CNN wrote. "Military vehicles were separating pro- and anti-Mubarak demonstrators, and several gasoline bombs had been tossed."

Major anti-government protests began in Egypt on Jan. 25 -- the "Day of Anger," also National Police Day -- and have escalated in size and violence since. Millions have turned out to demand President Mubarak and his regime's immediate removal from office amid allegations of abuse of power and corruption within his administration. More recently, however, supporters of the president have turned out to stage counter protests that have become extremely violent, with the two sides attacking each other with stones, bottles and sticks and the Egyptian military forced to police the situation.

► Catch Up: Mubarak Supporters Clash With Protesters | Obama to Mubarak: Time's Up

Tags: anderson cooper, cnn

Comments

(1058)

Wednesday 02 February

By Katie

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Slim D. should learn to speak with the correct spelling and grammer. You're just making yourself sound uneducated and unintelligent.

By schiconst

Katie, it may be beneficial for you to take your own advice since you misspelled "grammar"!

By Cody

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>>slim, you oughta go stick your nose in an open english textbook and learn how to write your language.

By Roger Bourgoyne

Have to agree, if they want to be in on the action, join the Marines. If they don't want to do that, find a tall building an buy a good zoom lens.

By nhumar8

I agree with Jennifer. Why is their 'attack' a story? IF they were there solely to cover the story then we should only hear about their Cairo coverage. There is a sense of 'oh poor us, look what just happened to Americans'. Well guys, you pretty much asked for it. You don't need to be in the middle of a riot to cover a story. Just like those idiot journalists who stand in the middle of a hurricane to prove there is one. Give me a break! I don't feel sorry for anyone who has such bad, self-serving judgment.

By MBJ

Reporters like Anderson Cooper have a tremendous amount of guts. Most Americans would never put themselves in harm's way to report a story.

By vinnie

if he had guts like you say . we would not hear about it . take the hits do your job and shut up about it . mommy it hurts

By Kathy G

Could not agree more about Anderson Cooper having "guts". I have long admired him for not only being such a great Journalist, but for always being in places where others would not want to be (New Orleans during Katrina, Haiti immediately after the earthquake), etc. Above all else, what makes him such an exceptional human, is that he could have lived a life of privilege sipping Margaritas somewhere, but instead he chose to report on (and help!) people in need in some of the worst places on earth at some of the worst moments in history! May he continue to do what he loves and, above all, may he be protected.

By richard

Anderson is a loser. Doesnt report the news as it is reports it as he sees it through his liberal eyes, so typical.

ac is hit 10 times . wtf was someone counting ? one two three wait hold on one two damit slow down ! one two hahahaha

By Richard

Too bad they stopped. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy!

By Robin

AC has guts? He's supposed to be reporting the news not making news. If these so called reporters wish to place themselves in danger when they've been told to leave the country by our president, they got what they asked for. Guts? Let him go to the front lines in Afghanistan and fight with our boys to make news. That's when I will agree that he's got guts.

By Joe

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Looks like he is doing his job by reporting what happened. I dont hear him crying. He's still doing his job.

By phil

Give most Americans a shot at that kinda money...and they'd take a slow boat to Egypt just to be there. Please. It's your job dude. Now if you're smart, one of your camera guys will bring along a Remington 870 Shotgun next time. Talk about Moses parting the red sea! I can't think for everyone.

By Annjoeann

I agree,he is a great reporter he always go to the danger spots.

By csi8299

You're right. The money, fame and so called prestige have jack to do with it.

By Icareprof

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MBJ, you are so right. Do we see O'Reilly in the middle of the danger zone to report back to us?

By jones

This is to KathyG:

You stated about Anderson Cooper that: "he could have lived a life of privilege sipping Margaritas somewhere, but instead he chose to report on (and help!) people in need..."

Obviously you are unaware of the FACT that Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, of the famed and uber-rich Vanderbilt shipping family.

Anderson Cooper was born into a family of EXCEPTIONAL privilege; more than likely part of the reason why he has the high-profile job he does!!!

By Cindy

Amen! Our country is the world-our countrymen are mankind. William Lloyd Garrison.
What happens around the world, happens to us. Ignorance is bliss.

By Renee Phillips

NBC has sent Brian Williams to Cairo along with Richard Engel. These reporters are doing a great job. Anderson Cooper is being picked on because he is gay. What has that got to do with his reporting skills. Rush and those other Fox characters have no character.

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