'I felt vulnerable, we knew they were looking for foreigners': How Dateline covered Egypt's Revolution

Eight years ago, in the middle of the Arab Spring, Egyptians took to the streets and clashed with police as they called for an end to the rein of Hosni Mubarak in a day of protests that would be known as the Friday of Anger. Dateline reporter Amos Roberts covered the uprising as it happened - and battled violence from protesters and authorities to tell the story.

Watch above as Dateline reporter Amos Roberts reveals how he came under attack and was forced to flee Egypt while covering the country's revolution.

On January 28, 2011, thousands of Egyptians emerged from their prayers and took to the streets. They were continuing protests over the leadership of long-time leader Hosni Mubarak in a series of anti-Government demonstrations that began on January 25.

What happened that Friday changed the country’s course, as the emotions that led to the country's revolution spilled onto the pavement. That day, known as the Friday of Anger, police and protesters clashed around the country as the violence escalated. Riots continued into the night as Mubarak dismissed his government – but refused to stand down. The animosity only intensified.

The revolution would continue into the next month, with Mubarak standing down on February 11.

Dateline reporter Amos Roberts was in the thick of the action, filming the activists who fueled the rebellion for the episode Egypt's Revolution.

The close quarters came at a cost to Roberts, who was arrested, beaten up and forced to leave the country.

“Within a 7 day period, I was teargassed, shot at, interrogated, searched, blindfolded by military intelligence, attacked by a mob and effectively had to get out of the country before anything worse happened,” he said.


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Dateline is an award-winning Australian, international documentary series airing for over 40 years. Each week Dateline scours the globe to bring you a world of daring stories.
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By SBS Dateline
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