Israeli forces beat mourners carrying the casket of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Israeli forces attacked mourners carrying the casket of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in occupied East Jerusalem, Al Jazeera has reported. According to the report, thousands of Palestinians had gathered for Akleh's funeral before her burial at Mount Zion Protestant Cemetery.

At one point, according to footage shot by Al Jazeera, the casket falls to the ground.

Several journalists reported on the shocking scenes at the funeral today.

BBC correspondent Emir Nader said the security forces "did not want her procession to leave on foot...and become a walking demonstration".

The Washington Post said the Israeli police "prevented crowds carrying Abu Akleh’s coffin from leaving the hospital compound, beating mourners with batons until the coffin almost dropped to the ground".

CNN said the mourners were "met with violence by Israeli police", who then "beat mourners with batons".

Abu Akleh, who reported for Al Jazeera, was shot dead on May 11 while covering Israeli military raids in Jenin. Her employer reported that she had been shot by Israeli forces. Israel's military said its initial probe into her killing was inconclusive.

An eyewitness, Shatha Hanaysha, a journalist with Qud News Network, told the Guardian it was an "assassination". "Even after she fell to the ground the fire did not stop and none of us were able to reach her," she said. "A guy was finally able to reach us; he helped me and started pulling her."