Annika Henroth-Rothstein, a Swedish political reporter, said she “truly believed they would kill us all” describing how the recruits ordered the media pack to lie face-down on the ground as they held guns to the back of their heads. The attack is said to have happened on Saturday in the city of San Antonio del Tachira, near Venezuela’s border with Colombia. The paramilitaries loyal to embattled Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro reportedly robbed the team of all their belongings including their phones, money and Ms Henroth-Rothstein’s laptop.
The journalist, who writes for the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, described the harrowing incident in a series of tweets for her followers.
She said: “I was taken by the pro-Madura guerrilla in San Antonio del Tachira, robbed and beaten along with my security and then they forced us to get on our stomachs while they held guns to the back of our heads.
She added: “The guerrilla was HEAVILY armed and I truly believe they would kill us all.
“They saw my camera and press pass and put guns on us all.
“After they finally let us go we only got 10 minutes down her road before gunfire broke out on both sides and we hid in a shed for over an hour.”
Yesterday areas along Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil were the scenes of fierce clashes between civilians and soldiers.
Two people including a 14-year-old boy died as Venezuelans protested when aid convoys were prevented from entering.
Ms Henroth-Rothstein, who used a strangers phone to post the Tweets, said the guerrillas accused her of “trying to infiltrate” the oil-rich nation and told her she was committing a crime.
She said when she froze with shock during the violent incident, the paramilitaries slapped her across the face but added that she felt lucky because her “life was spared”.
The attack happened as reports emerged claiming a hotel where journalists were seeking refuge was targeted by Venezuelan law enforcement officials.
Windows were said to have been smashed and tear gas fired into a hotel in the city of Urena, less than three miles from Colombia.
CNN journalist Osmary Hernandez posted a video on Twitter showing what looked like a cloud of tear gas in an open-air corridor of the hotel.
Ms Henroth-Rothstein said she was “physically fine” apart from a few bruises after being attacked and had arrived at a safe hotel last night.
She added: “I want everyone to know what these people, this regime, is doing to its people and to anyone who tries to expose them. I am safe now but we are trying to get back to Caracas tonight.
“My body hurts, my soul hurts but I will never forget the Venezuelans who warned up and helped us.”