Romanian authorities must swiftly investigate attacks on journalists covering last week’s farmers’ protest in Bucharest, and make sure those responsible are held accountable while also respecting journalists’ right to protect their sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

After the protests on September 15, police publicly requested footage from media, civil society groups and nearby businesses to identify suspected offenders. Separately, police emailed online news outlet HotNews requesting protest footage as part of their investigation into the clashes but the outlet declined to comply, citing journalists’ rights to protect their sources.

“The attacks on journalists covering the farmers’ protests in Bucharest are particularly troubling given the rise in threats, harassment, legal pressure, and intimidation faced by Romanian journalists over the past years,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Authorities must send a clear message that violence and intimidation against the press will not be tolerated. Police should swiftly investigate these attacks, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that journalists can report safely from public demonstrations. They must do so without compromising journalists’ right to protect their sources.”

Farmers were protesting to demand the scrapping of an EU ban on live sheep exports imposed following outbreaks of a highly contagious livestock disease. Far-right groups joined the demonstration and clashes broke out with riot police, injuring around two dozen people.

Protesters, some of them masked, attacked at least eight journalists and media workers: at least three needed medical attention.

Assailants shoved and punched Cristiana Chițu, a reporter for television channel Realitatea Plus, and struck camera operator Ruben Lighezan in the head and neck, leaving both needing treatment.

A reporter and camera operator from television channel Digi24, whose names were not made public, were attacked; the operator was punched in the face and hospitalized. The station’s live broadcast was interrupted as protesters threw stones and other objects at police and journalists.

Reporter Gabriel Kolbay, of news website București.ro, was repeatedly struck and his camera destroyed.

A masked man struck the camera of Ioana Moldoveanu, of investigative news website Snoop, threatened to take her phone and smash her equipment, and insulted her profession after she identified herself as a journalist.

A protester insulted and manhandled reporter Anna Constantin, of online investigative outlet Recorder, while another protester attempted to spit at her colleague David Muntean.

Local press freedom groups said that the attacks reflected ongoing campaigns to discredit the press; hostile rhetoric from politicians and public figures has portrayed journalists as enemies and normalized violence against them. Local press freedom groups also said that criminal investigations should respect the right of journalists to protect their sources and documents.

CPJ emailed the press departments of the Bucharest police and the Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, for comment but received no response.