The Hungarian journalist who tripped fleeing migrants insists she's 'not a heartless, racist, children-kicking camerawoman'

Petra Laszlo apologizes for tripping fleeing migrants
(Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Earlier this week, Hungarian media outlet N1TV fired camerawoman Petra Laszlo after she was filmed tripping migrants fleeing the police:

On Thursday, Lazlo apologized in the conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet. "I was scared as the crowd rushed toward me, and then something snapped in me," she explained. "I'm not a heartless, racist, children-kicking camerawoman," she added. "I do not deserve the political witch hunts against me, nor the smears or often the death threats. I'm just a woman, and now an unemployed mother of small children, who made a bad decision in a situation of panic. I am truly sorry."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.