BANGKOK, Oct 10 — CNN apologises for filming at the crime scene of a knife and gun rampage at a childcare centre in Uthai Sawan, Nong Bua Lamphu and removed the video from its website.
The two CNN journalists — an Australian, 47, and a Briton, 34 — agreed to pay a fine of 5,000 baht each and to leave the country after authorities found they had been working in the country on tourist visas.
However, they were cleared of entering and filming at the crime scene.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said an investigation found the team had been allowed to enter the crime scene by a health official present but they were unaware the person was not authorised to allow them inside, he said.
In a video, both journalists apologised for filming at the childcare centre.
“I would like to offer my deepest apologies to the people of Thailand especially the families’ of the victims of the tragedy.
“We are so sorry to cause you more pain and suffering. That was never our intention,” said Anna Coren, one of CNN’s crew.
Meanwhile, CNN International’s executive vice president and general manager Mike McCarthy also apologised.
In a statement, he expressed deep regret for any distress or offence that may have been caused, and for any inconvenience to the Thai police at such a distressing time for the country.
McCarthy said CNN had ceased broadcasting the report and had removed the video from its website.
He said CNN’s team reporting from the scene of the tragic event in Nong Bua Lamphu sought permission from Thailand’s Health Department officials present there to enter the daycare centre.
“The (CNN) team now understands that these officials were not authorised to grant the permission. If the team had understood that the building and its rooms were off-limits, they would not have entered. It was never their intention to contravene any rules,” McCarthy said.
He added there was no police tape on the scene at the time.
“After working carefully and respectfully inside the building for around 15 minutes the team went to leave, however the gate to the grounds was now closed and a police tape had been erected, which meant they needed to climb over the exit gate,” McCarthy said.
A photo of CNN’s crew climbing over a fence at the childcare compound and another already outside went viral on social media.
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) said the CNN’s crew filming at the childcare centre was unprofessional and a serious breach of journalistic ethics in crime reporting.
On Thursday, a sacked policeman killed 36 people — including 24 children — in Uthai Sawan in Nong Bua Lamphu province, about 500 km northeast of Bangkok.
The 34-year-old man killed 23 children who were sleeping after lunch at the childcare centre.
The perpetrator fled the scene in a vehicle, went home, and killed his wife and son before fatally shooting himself.
— Bernama
