CNN Pulls ‘Unethical’ and ‘Insensitive’ Report on Thailand Daycare Killings

The body of the shooter Panya Khamrap inside a body bag at Na Klang Hospital following a rampage in the town of Uthai Sawan in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand, on Oct. 6, 2022. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

CNN has apologized for a report on the massacre at a nursery in Thailand that left 37 dead and pulled the story off air following criticism over how its journalists filmed the crime scene.

The network’s apology came after its report, which featured graphic images of the bloodstained floor at the nursery, was condemned by the Thai Journalists Association and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT).

Police have since launched an inquiry into the matter amid allegations that CNN crew members had failed to receive authorization before entering the site to film.

The Thai Journalists Association branded CNN’s actions “unethical” and “insensitive,” and called for an internal company investigation of the incident in addition to the official Thai probe.

In a statement on Twitter, FCCT said it was “dismayed” by the report filmed at the daycare center in Nong Bua Lamphu and that a CNN team had “entered a clearly marked crime scene without permission—no matter what they may claim.”

FCCT shared a photo alongside the post showing an individual climbing over a fence at the front of the daycare center while a police cordon can be seen surrounding the front of the building.

“This was unprofessional and a serious breach of journalistic ethics in crime reporting,” FCCT added.

Relatives of the victims of a mass killing attack gather for a Buddhist ceremony in front of the Young Children's Development Center in the rural town of Uthai Sawan, north eastern Thailand, on Oct. 9, 2022. Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo

Reporters ‘Entered Building in Good Faith’

In an initial response to the backlash, CNN said in a statement on Twitter that its reporters had been granted permission to film inside the building by three public health officials after the police cordon at the nursery had been removed.

“The team gathered footage inside the center for around 15 minutes, then left. During this time, the cordon had been set back in place, so the team needed to climb over the fence at the center to leave,” the news agency said.

However, CNN International’s Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike McCarthy issued another statement on Saturday apologizing for the incident.

“CNN’s team reporting from the scene of the tragic event in Nong Bua Lamphu sought permission from Thailand Health Department officials present there to enter the daycare center,” the statement reads. “The team now understands that these officials were not authorized to grant this permission. If the team had understood that the building and its rooms were off-limits, they would not have entered. It was never their intention to contravene any rules.”

“The team entered the compound through an open gate to the yard, where other journalists were already present. There was no police tape on the scene at the time. After working carefully and respectfully inside the building for around 15 minutes the team went to leave, however the gate to the grounds was now closed and police tape had been erected, which meant they needed to climb over the gate to exit,” the statement continued.

“The team entered the building in good faith, to gain a fuller impression of what transpired inside and to humanize the scale of the tragedy for their audience ... we deeply regret any distress or offense our report may have caused,” McCarthy said.

People gather outside of daycare center in the town of Uthai Sawan, 500 kilometers (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand, on Oct. 6, 2022. Sakdipat Boonsom/Handout via Reuters

Deadliest Massacre in History

Meanwhile, the two CNN journalists involved in the matter were fined 5,000 baht ($133) each and had to leave the country after authorities discovered they had been working despite entering on tourist visas.

However, officials found that the reporters had not intended to trespass and were cleared of any wrongdoing for entering the daycare center.

Both the CNN members, Australian reporter Anna Coren and cameraman Daniel Hodge, also issued video messages expressing their regret over the incident and apologizing for causing more pain and suffering to the families of the victims.

The shooting at the nursery last Thursday marked the country’s deadliest massacre in its history, with 24 children aged from 2 to 5 among the 37 killed after gunman Panya Kamrab stormed the building, opened fire, and stabbed people.

Officials say Kamrab was a 34-year-old former policeman who was suspended last year over drug allegations and was expected to stand trial for illegal possession of amphetamine, ThaiPBS reported.

The death toll includes the attacker, his wife, and his child.

The Associated Press and Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.