Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


In Quake-Rattled Albania, Journalists Detained on Fake News Charges After
Falsely Warning of Aftershocks

Armand Mero

   TIRANA, ALBANIA - Two Albanian journalists were taken into custody
   early Monday for an alleged hoax in "publishing the fake news, and
   causing panic among the citizens" about seismic activity, according to
   police.

   Albanian reporters Aurel Rakipllari of Syri.net and Daniela Grica of
   Gazeta Shekulli were questioned in relation to false warnings that a
   magnitude-6 aftershock was predicted to shake the nation's capital near
   midnight on Sunday, authorities said.

   The headline on the original story called for people to leave their
   homes as soon as possible, triggering a massive panic as residents took
   to the darkened streets of a city already beset by Saturday's
   magnitude-5.8 quake that damaged nearly 1,000 buildings and injured at
   least 105.

   Fearing another massive quake, many parked their cars along the highway
   to bed down for the night, while others went to a soccer stadium with
   small suitcases or sat outside cafes for a late-night coffee.
   

References

   Visible links
   Hidden links:
   1. file://localhost/press-freedom/concerns-mount-over-proposed-albanian-media-law

.