World media report on Guyana press killings

The story was first reported on the Internet by the Associated Press (AP) whose story appeared on the CNN website under the title “At least six killed in Guyana newspaper attack.”

The story by Bert Wilkinson was carried in at least 11 newspapers across the United States including the Boston Globe, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Ely Times, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Tribune-Democrat, Kansas City Star, Wyoming News, and Town Hall DC.

The AP story said, “Gunmen with automatic weapons stormed Guyana’s second largest newspaper, killing at least six people and wounding three in an attack that may be linked to a simultaneous protest at the South American nation’s main prison, authorities said.”

The British Reuters news agency reported the incident in a story entitled “Gunmen kill five in attack on Guyana newspaper.”

The Reuters story said: “Employees of Kaieteur News, located outside the capital of Georgetown, said a group of gunmen stormed the agency’s printing office around 10 pm and shot the employees execution style.”

The British Guardian newspaper ran a story “Six dead in attack on Guyana newspaper” which said,“The motive was unclear, but the attack comes amid preparations for a general election later this month.”

Hardbeatnews, a New York based news agency serving the Caribbean diaspora, reported a story entitled “Guyana, staffers at a private newspaper executed.”

The story reported President Bharrat Jagdeo as condemning the murders as a deliberate attempt to target the newspaper company and generate fear in society.

The story said, “The Head of State noted that this latest round of violence perpetuated by armed gangs should be a wake-up call for those who perceive gunmen to be freedom fighters.”

Radio Jamaica’s website reported “Gunmen attack Guyanese newspaper” which gave details of how the tragedy unfolded.

“Six printery staff, on hearing the shooting, ran into a closet at the back of the building, however the gunmen forced five of them to come out and lie face down on the ground and shot them through the back of their heads at point blank range.”