Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 07:35:59 -0500
Scientology: Attack on ARD film team
Man hits Camera with Hammer
Clearwater, USA
Mainz (dpa). According to a team from ARD magazine's
"Report Mainz," they were attacked in front of artist Gottfried
Helnwein by a man armed with a hammer while they were
making inquiries in Clearwater, U.S. state of Florida. As
"Suedwestrundfunk" (SWR) broadcasting reported yesterday
in Mainz, camera man Mark Bunker was hit twice during the
incident and his camera was damaged. He himself was said to
be unharmed. According to the broadcast statement, the
report team was researching the Scientology background of
the artist before the next Helnwein proceeding at the
Frankfurt Superior State Court. Helnwein was said to have
been staying in the vicinity of the Scientology Center in
Clearwater. The renowned painter had been described as a
Scientologist by two associations critical of Scientology in
1994. Among other things, they accused him of being a
"clergyman" of a group "which uses coercive hypnotic
procedures with the help of a lie detector to destroy people's
psyches to control them."
In response Helnwein sued for a cease-and-desist order, but
was overturned in the second set of hearings before Frankfurt
Superior State Court. At the end of 1998, the Federal
Constitutional Court repealed that judgment and referred the
matter back to Frankfurt. That was supposed to have been
tried anew on February 17.
When "Report Mainz" wanted to interview Helnwein, the
door was opened for the camera team. Only a few moments
later an attacker armed with a hammer came out of
Helnwein's house and attacked the team on the open street. It
is now being reviewed to see if charges will be pressed
against the man.
by Gomolka, Georg
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February 4, 2000
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