Disgraced Hungarian journalist wants to sue refugee she tripped
Hungarian camerawoman Petra Laszlo, who caused global outrage after being filmed tripping and kicking refugees as they ran from police in Hungary, has reportedly announced that she intends to sue Facebook and one of the refugees she tripped as "a matter of honor".
In an interview with Russian news outlet Izvestia, Laszlo alleged the social media network had failed to remove negative and threatening messages against her after videos of her cruel behaviour went viral, instead banning groups set up to support her actions.
Laszlo added that the man she intended to sue was Osama Abdul Mohsen, a 52-year-old Syrian refugee who fell to the ground on top of his child after Laszlo tripped him. Abdul Mohsen has since found a job in Spain at the country's national soccer coaching academy.
She accused Mohsen of swapping stories, which she claims has caused the intense backlash against her.
"He changed his testimony because he initially blamed the police," Laszlo said. "My husband wants to prove my innocence."
After the video went viral, Laszlo was detained for questioning by police, and was later fired from her job at N1TV channel for her "unacceptable" behaviour.
The camerawoman then issued an apology, saying she had panicked when refugees were running towards her.
"I'm not a heartless, child-kicking racist camera-person," she said in a letter to Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet.
Laszlo is currently facing criminal charges from Hungarian prosecutors and continues to deny any racism involved in the incident.
She said her family might relocate to Russia because they often feel threatened and scared to go outside.