CNN journalists detained in Thailand for their coverage of daycare massacre leave country

The two journalists from the U.S. television network CNN who were arrested by the Thai police accused of violating the scene of the massacre that took place last week in a kindergarten and that resulted in more than twenty children dead have left the country on Monday.

Their departure has taken place after security forces released them after withdrawing the tourist visas granted to both of them, according to information from the newspaper ‘Bangkok Post’.

Thus, the two reporters, identified as Anna Coren and Daniel Hodge, have headed to Suvarnabhumi airport to catch a flight to Hong Kong. Immigration had previously revoked their visas after authorities criticized their coverage of the kindergarten massacre for entering the school.

Thai police chief Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas said both Coren and Hodge have also been fined 5,000 baht (about 136 euros) each for violating their tourist visas.

The journalists had recorded images from inside the kindergarten, which has raised controversy in the country, especially from the victims’ relatives, who have accused them of violating journalistic ethics.

The Police, for its part, has explained that the media did not have permission to access the crime scene, something that has been disputed by the journalists, who claim that they had the corresponding permission but have apologized for what happened.

The security forces have insisted that their presence at the scene could have “contaminated evidence”, which would hinder the work of investigators. In this sense, he does not rule out other charges against him.