ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Rudaw Media Network’s office in northeastern Syria’s Qamishli was set on fire early Tuesday morning, causing material damage.
The office in Rojava was attacked by at least three people at around 12:30 in the morning. CCTV footage shows two masked men entering through the gate leading to the office and throwing Molotov cocktails into the building, while another person waits for them outside.
Rudaw’s reporter in Qamishli, Barzan Farman, said that it is still unclear who was behind the attack, however, Asayish forces have started their investigation.
The journalist added that all the employees were home when the attack happened, but there was a large amount of material damage. The fire was put out by neighbors.
The office, which has a license from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) to operate in the region, has been attacked five times previously - the latest on September 5, also causing material damage.
“So far, no arrests have been made regarding previous attacks, though they happened during the daytime and with the presence of security forces,” reads a statement from Rudaw Media Network, accusing the Revolutionary Youth Movement, an organization belonging to the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), of being behind the past attacks.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
“This attack is a very serious threat to the work and lives of Rudaw Media Network’s team in Western Kurdistan. While it is also a very dangerous assault on the freedom of journalism in the area,” the Rudaw statement added.
Updated at 12:05 PM with Rudaw Media Network statement
