Baltimore riots: reporter chased and assaulted while covering protests into Freddie Gray death

A photographer covering the protests said he was beaten by police

A reporter with RT was chased by a gang while covering protests in Baltimore

Two journalists covering protests in Baltimore over the death of black suspect Freddie Gray found themselves at the centre of the news – in a way they would not have wished.

Video footage posted by the channel Russia Today (RT) appeared to show its reporter being chased, assaulted and attacked by members of a gang of youths.

Meanwhile, a photographer with the Washington City paper was reportedly beaten by police while he was standing close to a protester.

The footage posted by RT showed a group of youths posing for pictures before the mood quickly darkens. The youths then appear to push jostle the woman who runs towards police lines. She can he heard shouting: “Stop. Give it back!”

The Washington City Paper said that photo editor JM Giordano was tackled and beaten by Baltimore City police outside the police headquarters.

The paper said a video shot by Managing Editor Baynard Woods shows Mr Giordano and a protester, both of whom had just been knocked to the ground by police, being beaten, as Mr Woods yells: “He’s a photographer. He’s press.”

Mr Giordano said he was standing next to the protester in the video, facing the police line, at about 12.30am when someone threw a rock which hit a police officer’s shield.

“They mobilised,” he said. “They just swarmed over me I got hit. My head hit the ground. They were hitting me, then someone pulled me out.”

Neither RT or the Baltimore Police Department immediately responded to inquiries.