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Daily Mail Paris

Daily Mail says publishing footage of Paris attacks was 'demonstrably in the public interest'

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By Tony Connelly, Sports Marketing Reporter

November 24, 2015 | 2 min read

The Daily Mail has defended its alleged €50,000 payment for Paris terrorist attack video footage previously encrypted by French police to prevent it being made public, claiming that its publication was “demonstrably in the public interest".

Daily Mail Paris footage

Daily Mail Paris footage

The CCTV video, showing the scenes inside the Casa Nostra café in the seconds running up to and including the attack, was obtained by the Daily Mail from the café owner for an alleged €50,000. Police had obtained the footage as part of their investigation and had told the café owner that it fell under the confidentiality of the investigation and it must remain here.

The footage was then encrypted however the café owner is reported to have told two Daily Mail journalists that he had a friend who could unencrypt it.

In a statement to the Guardian, the Daily Mail said: “There is nothing controversial about the Mail’s acquisition of this video, a copy of which the police already had in their possession. It was obtained against stiff competition from French and international media outlets and provided a vital perspective on a massive global news story.

“The publication of the video – one of many that emerged in the aftermath of the events in Paris – on MailOnline and stills in the paper was demonstrably in the public interest. The images have since been aired on TV, online and in print in France and around the world.”

Given the sum paid for the footage the Daily Mail journalists are believed to have demanded that the hard disk containing the video be destroyed in front of them.

Daily Mail Paris

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