After CNN international correspondent Anna Coren and photojournalist Daniel Hodge reported from the scene of last week’s deadly daycare shooting in Thailand, their visas were revoked and they were forced to leave the country after recording an apology video on Monday.
Coren apologized “to the people of Thailand and the families of the victims”A video was posted to YouTube on YouTube by Nation Thailand English-language news agency. “We are so sorry we caused you more pain and suffering… we never came here to cause more grief.”Hodge also offered his apology, and the two of them prayed and bowed before the Thai police.
CNN News segment shot at daycare. 36 people, including 24 kids, were killed in the shooting on Oct. 6. Coren spoke with first responders and showed them the floor, still bloody, with the warning. “disturbing video.” The clip has since been taken down by CNN, but can still be found at sites including Allentown, Pennsylvania’s WFMZ. CNN’s articleAbout the visit, where Coren shares an byline, was still available online.
According to CNN, both CNN reporters were on tourist visas to Thailand and were not allowed to work in Thailand. Bangkok Post. National police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas told the Post they were fined 5,000 baht ($131.68) each for violating tourist visa regulations. They will not be facing criminal charges and are not on an immigration blacklist.
Coren and Hodge left on a Thai Airways International flight bound for Hong Kong on Monday.
Mike McCarthy, executive vice president and general manager of CNN International, said in a statement provided to that the crew didn’t know the daycare center was restricted. McCarthy claimed that Hodge and Coren entered the building without any police tape. They did work “carefully and respectfully inside the building for around 15 minutes,”McCarthy claimed that McCarthy spoke during the time police tape was being put up.
“The team entered the building in good faith, to gain a fuller impression of what transpired inside and to humanise the scale of the tragedy for their audience,” McCarthy’s statement said. “We deeply regret any distress or offence our report may have caused.”