VIDEO: Armed Robbers Storm Live TV Broadcast, Cart Away Phones and Equipment

Newslens NG reports that South African television reporter and members of his news crew have recounted a terrifying ordeal after armed robbers stormed their live broadcast location and carted away phones and broadcast equipment moments before they were due to go on air.

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The dramatic incident, which was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, interrupted the crew’s live television coverage and forced them to abandon the broadcast.

Speaking after the incident, the reporter said he had just completed an earlier news bulletin and was preparing for another live report when the attackers struck.

“I was literally seconds away from going live for the seven o’clock bulletin. I had just finished another broadcast at half past six,” he recalled.

According to the journalist, he was speaking on his mobile phone with the programme’s executive producer when one of the suspects approached him and demanded his phone.

At first, he believed the man was merely interrupting him and did not realise it was a robbery.

“I was confused because I was the only one standing under the broadcast light. When he demanded my phone, I didn’t immediately understand what was happening,” he said.

The situation quickly escalated after the suspect called an accomplice who was armed with a gun. A colleague immediately urged him to surrender the phone to avoid harm.

The reporter said the gang stole at least three mobile phones belonging to members of the television crew, as well as a laptop used to coordinate the live broadcast with the station’s satellite news gathering (DSNG) system, before fleeing the scene.

Fortunately, no member of the crew sustained any injuries during the attack.

South African authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as efforts continue to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The viral footage has sparked widespread concern over the safety of journalists covering events in the field and renewed calls for stronger security measures for media professionals working on location.

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