Shocking video shows AP photographer being dragged by crowds at Capitol riots
Rioters pulled John Minchillo into the crowd, and screamed ‘We’re coming for you!’
Shocking video has shown the moment a photographer was set-upon by Donald Trump’s supporters as they rioted outside the US Capitol on Wednesday.
John Minchillo, who works for the Associated Press, was pulled backwards by a mob who wrongly alleged that he was an Antifa member.
Another Associated Press photographer, Julio Cortez, recorded the attack, and shared the video online.
It shows Mr Minchillo, who was dressed all-in-black with a mask and helmet, repeatedly shoved by rioters who shouted phrases such as, “Why are the media here!?”, and “We’re coming for you!”
At one point, multiple rioters set-upon the photographer, who pleaded with the crowd. He puts his arm in the air, and can be heard saying, “All right. All right. Enough.”
Mr Manchillo was then pushed over a short wall, as some porters shouted, “Who is he? Who is he?”
The photographer then shows his press pass to a rioter, who asked repeatedly ““Are you Antifa? Are you Antifa?”
The same man says to other supporters that the photographer is not an Antifa member, and appears to hand back a camera lens cap that was taken amid the tussle.
He then walks with the two photographers, Mr Minchillo and Mr Cortex, away from the crowd, and to safety.
In a caption alongside the video, Mr Cortex wrote that he and his colleague were labelled as “anti protesters”, even though Mr Manchillo showed his press pass.
“One person can be heard threatening to kill him,” Mr Cortex added. “I’m glad we were able to get away.”
The US president, who the crowds were outside the Capitol to support on Wednesday, has repeatedly attacked the media while in office.
He also alleged that Antifa - a far-left anti-facist extremist movement with no clear leader - was responsible for the violence seen at anti-racism protesters across the US last summer. Its members typically wear all-black.
According to reports, the president’s supporters - many aligned to far-right extremist movements such as QAnon and the Proud Boys, were believed to be among those who perpetrated the storm on the Capitol.
Five people, including a known QAnon supporter and a Capitol Police officer, are those who died as a result of the riot.
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