Media Contact: Daniela Montalvo (202) 662-7152

San Juan, Puerto Rico – NAHJ condemned the aggressive tactics of the FBI against journalists in Puerto Rico as agents of the federal bureau searched five homes and businesses Feb. 10 to thwart an alleged “domestic terrorist attack” planned by an island pro-independence group.

Reporters gathered outside an apartment building in the San Juan area to cover the FBI operation when they were sprayed with pepper spray by bureau agents. The incident was filmed and broadcast by a local television station.

Luis Fraticelli, special agent in charge of the FBI on the island, said that the FBI agents were using “non-lethal force” to keep media and protestors from crossing into a law enforcement perimeter.

NAHJ condemns the aggressive actions of FBI agents toward journalists covering the raid last Friday.

“We are concerned that these violent tactics used against journalists in Puerto Rico serve as another example of increased hostilities by the federal government against the press,” said NAHJ Executive Director Iván Román.

Claudio Alvarez Dunn, NAHJ’s Region 1 (Puerto Rico, Mexico, Virgin Islands) director, denounced the use of pepper spray on reporters, photographers and cameramen who were performing the duties of their job.

“The journalists were trying to cover an assignment,” said Alvarez Dunn, “and there is no justification for the federal agents to have used excessive force which is in opposition to legal principles implicit in the constitutional exercise of freedom of the press.”

He added “the situation stemming from this incident has been communicated to NAHJ’s membership of more than 2,000 journalists since these actions violated the human and civil rights of Puerto Rican journalists and stifled the right of the community to be informed.”