Journalists Assaulted Covering Food Protests in Downtown Caracas

  • Protests in Venezuela are increasing as shortages worsen
  • Electoral board cancels scheduled meeting, opposition says

A photographer moves to safety during a demonstration in Caracas on Thursday.

Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg
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At least 19 journalists were attacked while covering food protests in downtown Caracas on Thursday, Espacio Publico, a non-governmental organization that monitors freedom of expression in the Venezuelan capital, said in a statement on its website.

The assaults included robberies by members of the National Guard and armed civilians, Espacio Publico said. Caracas-based newspaper El Nacional reported that protests erupted outside a supermarket after shoppers were told that regulated goods they had expected to be available would not be up for sale.