Sacked camerawoman says she 'panicked'

A Hungarian camerawoman who caused global outrage after being caught on film tripping and kicking refugees as they fled police broke her silence on Friday, saying she had "panicked".

"As I watch the footage now, it's like I'm not watching myself. I honestly regret what I have done and take responsibility for it," wrote Petra Laszlo in a letter to Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet published on its website.

"I panicked. I'm not a heartless, child-kicking racist cameraperson," she added.