Policeman dead, TV station ransacked

7:30 AM - HERALD ONLINE STAFF

Radio New Zealand says a Fiji policeman was fatally shot while a mob rampaged on the streets of Suva last night. The officer apparently died after being shot in the back.

The head of news and current affairs at Fiji TV, Richard Broadbridge, told Radio New Zealand that the policeman was in a vehicle travelling from Suva to the military barracks.

Broadbridge says the killers "came behind the actual vehicle, and basically assassinated him. They fired three shots into the back of the vehicle and they hit him in the back."

The bedlam in Suva boiled over last evening when about 200 supporters of rebel leader George Speight left the parliamentary complex where they hold the elected government hostage.

Broadbridge says the Fiji TV newsroom was stormed by Speight supporters.

"Basically the newsroom has been trashed, there's kerosene all over one of our vechicles," Broadbridge said.

"They basically rampaged through the newsroom destroying our computers…they destroyed two cameras…they destroyed our studio and control room equipment and attempted to tamper with our transmission equipment."

Broadbridge says the invaders fired pistols outside the TV station, and used civilians as human shields during the rampage.

Mob on rampage

More Fiji coup coverage

Under seige: map of the Parliament complex