Pulitzer Prize winning author and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof (pictured) has released a series of chilling Twitter dispatches about a violent crackdown on protesters in Bahrain–a scene unfolding right now.
His most recent tweet recorded a chaotic scene: “Police attacking protesters here at hospital in #Bahrain. Tear gas inside. Panic.” He continued: “Panicked crowds running thru hospital after police attack. Drs rushing to ER. Tear gas grenades outside, wafting in.”
The Internet was effectively shuttered during the height of the protests in Egypt, so Twitter has helped journalists describe the Bahrain crackdown in rapid-fire, up-to-the-minute prose. More Twitter dispatches follow below, some contain violent imagery.
Journalist Hadeel Al-Shalchi wrote: “Protesters were carrying flowers saying they wanted to deliver it to police. Were shot instead. Blood on street now … Army firing live ammo from anti-aircraft guns from APC’s at protesters.”
Journalist Nic Robertson wrote: protesters who fled say live rounds fired, we hearing sporadic gunfire, people milling about, not clear what happens next.”
Kristof added more tweets this afternoon: “i interviewed someone at seattle’s best coffee, in an empty upscale mall, about the army opening fire on civilians. it’s surreal.”
Editor’s Note: This post was updated as the day continued.