Abbay Media, a leading Amhara media outlet in Los Angelous reveals three former ESAT journalists that parted ways with the news network recently, where ambushed outside there studio in the US state of Maryland.
The victims have been identified as Erimas Legesse, Habtamu Ayalew and Bertawit Girmaye. The journalists where reportadly confronted by an Armed assailant wielding a pistol, described as a person of color, possibly East African.
Then the man “got out of the car and pointed a gun on Habtamu and Erimias.” Abbay Media added that the man got into a fight with Habtamu who was reportedly brought down which is when, as per the report, that the man fired a shot to the air. Abbay Media reported the incident as an act robbery and assassination attempt, citing its unnamed sources.
According to Abbay media, Habtamu Ayalew and Bertawit Girmaye sustained minor injuries and they visited Washington Adventist Church hospital, and were discharged same day. The incident happened mid afternoon local time. Police are seemingly investigating the incident.
ESAT has been marred by controversy in recent weeks. An exiled media outlet originally formed in 2010 by the Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG7) rebel movement. ESAT has been a vocal critical of the former Woyaane regime (TPLF) and was blacklisted until recently. Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG7) issued a press release on the 9th of May giving up ownership of ESAT and relinquishing power to a public board. Various journalists and editors working for the media outlet (ESAT) where dissatisfied with this move, which sparked friction within the establishment.
Its not clear if the friction within ESAT is related to the violence that took place today targeting the journalists in Maryland. ESAT and Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG7) are yet to comment on these latest developments.
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