Bassem Masri: Reporter Streaming Video Of Fergusion Riots Has Phone Stolen Live On Air
Bassem Masri was broadcasting from riots that erupted in Ferguson on Monday when one rioter apparently attacked Bassem and made off with his phone, a robbery witnessed by tens of thousands of viewers.
Masri was one of many live streamers of the protest, citizen journalists taking live video that is then streamed to YouTube and Ustream for thousands of visitors. Masri had become one of the most popular live streamers, and there were up to 90,000 followers on Monday.
Those watching saw Bassem Masri shooting footage of police and protesters on an iPhone 6 when suddenly the camera shook as an unseen rioter snatched it from his hands. The footage then shows the thief running away for close to two minutes, and near the end of the video telling someone else that he had snatched an iPhone 6.
Masri had gotten quite a reputation for his fiery interviews and harsh rhetoric against police officers. After the robbery, Bassem Masri blamed police for the theft of his phone.
We had 90k ppl watching us live good strat by police stealing my phone sending in crash dummies #ferguson
— Bassem Masri (@bassem_masri) November 25, 2014
Even with his phone stolen, Bassem Masri continued to relay developments from the Ferguson riots.
Chatter is police are raiding a church no confirmation #Ferguson — Bassem Masri (@bassem_masri) November 25, 2014
The Ferguson riots erupted shortly after a grand jury returned no indictment against police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed black teen Michael Brown in August. Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up at the time of the shooting, though others said he was attacking Wilson and forensic evidence appeared to back this line of events.
Tensions boiled over quickly in Ferguson, with rioters overturning cars and setting fire to nearby buildings and to at least one police cruiser.
Police have responded also in force to the Ferguson riots.
“I’ve had police point guns at me twice tonight,” tweeted St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, who has been active at protests for the last few months. “I pray we get through this night without anyone getting hurt.”
Even after having his phone stolen during a live broadcast, Bassem Masri has vowed to continue reporting on the Ferguson riots.
