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 vwilson793

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I knew there was something I liked about these protesters.

By Venus Alexis

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You are one sick individual and you really should seek some kind of counseling!!!

By Bob

Lol at Anderson Cooper finally being put in his place. I mean really what do you expect when you put yourself between pro gov and anti gov protesters.

By daytimedaddo

im still waiting for the answer to an earlier posters question...where is the "neutral zone" in a riot?

By Tom

If he was in a neutral spot, what did he except to learn there?

By John

Cooper's an empty suit out to make any "story" about him. He's not a reporter by any definition, just a "personality"... and just one of such "personalities" foisted upon us by all of the current "news" outlets.

By MJ

AC has a problem remembering that he is supposed to report the news, not make the news.

By raidrmik67

There is a fine line between stupidity and bravery. When the US Gov. tells everyone to get out then GET THE HELL OUT! He's lucky he didn't get killed.

By Cory

Doesn't look like he took any punches to me. Either he is exagerating or young egyptian men hit like sissies.

By bagsamoney

What did Anderson expect to happen. For a week now CNN and other liberal media have been siding with the Muslim Brotherhood regardless of the danger this would cause America. Then he has the audacity to be surprised when he injects himself into the opposition? Glad he didn't get hurt, but once again CNN on the wrong side of the issues.

By doug

Amen. Was it really pro Mubarak protesters or is this more CNN propaganda?

By John Bliss

Bags, I remember Dan Rather acting the same way in Viet Nam, standing up where the troops were ducked down. "They won't shoot me, I work for CBS!" Hey, that's it, maybe they thought AC was Dan Rather! LOL

By sandi

"danger this would cause America"? "wrong side of the issue"? There ARE things a bit more important than what we pay for a frigging gallon of gas. The way a country treats their citizens is far more important than you being able to fuel your metal beast down to Walmart to buy crap made in Bangkok so you could get it at a cheaper price!

By Elizabeth Orndorff

USA citizens need to leave Egypt.

By jaba

It makes sense that the "supporters" attacked the media since the President shut down all references of showing what is going on there. No Internet, no radio, no television, nothing!

By cfriendwork

i rekn he aint doin that there gin.

By Paul

Next, he'll be working for the Weather Channel reporting from the inside of a tornado to tell us it's windy. Genius.

By Hodad

LMAO

By budcommish

I think I just wet myself...Great post!

By Joyce Jackson

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Wtf, you people are freakin crazy on this site. Someone could hve lost their life, I don't give a damn the reason, he's a f--king reporter sh-- for brains!

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