(Adnkronos) – Italy has urged Switzerland to safeguard journalists covering investigations into the deadly fire at a bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montanta, which killed 40 people, including six Italian teenagers and injured over 100 people on New Year’s Eve.
“Two Rai crews were attacked and threatened yesterday in #CransMontana,” Tajani wrote Tuesday on X, referring to Italy’s public broadcaster.
“The journalists were working to report to the Italian public on the developments of the probes and the aftermath of the disaster in which six of our young people lost their lives and many people were injured, some especially gravely,” the post continued.
“I have asked our embassy in Switzerland to raise awareness among the authorities about the need for attention to be paid and for surveillance,” the post went on.
“The journalists must continue to operate freely,” the post underlined.
“The context of this disaster must lead us to respect everyone’s pain, but in no way should it allow acts of violence or intimidation against the press.
The ‘Ore 14’ programme’s special correspondent Francesca Crimi and her cameraman Marco Bonifacio were doused in cold water on Monday by a person understood to be “close” to the blaze-ravaged Le Constellation bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
in a separate incident on Monday, the ‘Uno Mattina’ programme’s special correspondent Domenico Marocchi, his cameraman, and a TV crew from ‘Storie Italiane’ were attacked by a group of unknown assailants outside a restaurant also owned by the Morettis, forcing the Rai vehicle to drive off at speed, the journalists allege.
