zaterdag, juli 26, 2003
Geoff Hoon, the British Secretary of State for Defence, was accused of threatening and insulting a photographer yesterday as he continued to face pressure over the death of weapons expert David Kelly.
Mr Hoon leapt out of his car at a junction, accused the man of harassment, and allegedly called him a "low-life scumbag". The photographer, Doug Mark, said Mr Hoon's Special Branch bodyguard later apologised, saying the minister was " under a lot of stress at the moment". The confrontation happened near Mr Hoon's home.
The Ministry of Defence said the altercation was caused by Mr Hoon's worry that his children were being photographed. But Mr Mark, who works for a local agency, said: "I was not taking pictures of his family. I showed him the frame on the back of the camera to show it was only his photograph. I felt very threatened by Mr Hoon. He is a big man, at least four or five inches taller than me, and he was leaning into my face waving his car keys, calling me a scumbag, demanding my film. He appears to have totally lost it. I have often photographed politicians, but I have never faced this sort of behaviour. We are local photographers, not the paparazzi. Hoon's Special Branch minder did not make any effort to help him."
Bron: The Independent.
Mr Hoon leapt out of his car at a junction, accused the man of harassment, and allegedly called him a "low-life scumbag". The photographer, Doug Mark, said Mr Hoon's Special Branch bodyguard later apologised, saying the minister was " under a lot of stress at the moment". The confrontation happened near Mr Hoon's home.
The Ministry of Defence said the altercation was caused by Mr Hoon's worry that his children were being photographed. But Mr Mark, who works for a local agency, said: "I was not taking pictures of his family. I showed him the frame on the back of the camera to show it was only his photograph. I felt very threatened by Mr Hoon. He is a big man, at least four or five inches taller than me, and he was leaning into my face waving his car keys, calling me a scumbag, demanding my film. He appears to have totally lost it. I have often photographed politicians, but I have never faced this sort of behaviour. We are local photographers, not the paparazzi. Hoon's Special Branch minder did not make any effort to help him."
Bron: The Independent.
# posted by Jan-Edward : 11:15
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