Brave Afghan journo goes on air minutes after terror attack on TV station

An Afghan journalist has shown professionalism beyond the call of duty and earned widespread praise from social media, after he began a news broadcast immediately after a terrorist attack on the news station premises ended. Parwiz Sapy, a journalist of Shamshad TV, made the broadcast with bandaged hands, as he had earlier helped his colleagues escape the building by breaking open a window in the newsroom when sounds of gunfire had erupted, reports Al Jazeera. "Asalamualikum [Peace be upon you] Shamshad TV viewers, all staff members inside the building have been rescued," Sapy said in the broadcast, speaking in Pashto. "We have all resumed our work, all our journalists are back on duty," he added. ISIS militants disguised as policemen had stormed the news station, and were killed following a four-hour-long rescue operation by Afghan security forces. One of the attackers had blown himself up outside the building while another ran inside.  A security guard was killed and at least 24 others were wounded.

Two hours after the attack, #ShamshadTV anchor is back in the studio, with bandaged hand, reading news of the day. Welcome to #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/I73mjBsfRZ

— Zafar Mehdi (@mehdizafar) November 7, 2017

"We were in the middle of our daily morning meeting when we heard gunfire," Sapy told Al Jazeera. "The only escape route was a tiny window in our newsroom, so I ran towards it and punched it. "I took out the bits and pieces of glass with my hands and shouted 'everyone get out from here!' and that is where most of us managed to escape from." Several users of social media have praised the journalist’s courage and determination.

In case you missed it. This journalist stands for true resilience #ShamshadTV https://t.co/oPBcQZn4Kk

— Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi (@WasHasNaz) November 8, 2017

Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, former EU ambassador and EU special representative for Afghanistan, tweeted: "Must admire Afghan journalist's resilience and determination." Twitter user Naimat Khan said: "A very loud message to terrorists. You can beat armies but not journalists."