International Freedom of Expression Exchange: The global network for free expression
15 January 2008
NORWEGIAN REPORTER MURDERED IN KABUL
A Norwegian journalist was one of at least six people killed in an alleged Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Carsten Thomassen, a reporter for the Oslo newspaper "Dagbladet", was in Serena hotel in Kabul covering the visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister when armed militants stormed the building. According to IPI, one militant detonated explosives on his vest, while others threw grenades and fired guns. Thomassen was shot and later died in hospital while undergoing surgery.
"These attacks on Afghan and foreign civilians are war crimes, and we firmly condemn them," says RSF.
The attack, responsibility of which was later claimed by the Taliban, left at least six people dead. According to IFJ, most of the dead and injured were Afghans. IFJ reports that the Taliban said the attackers escaped, but security sources say that at least one militant was shot dead.
Visit these links:
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=5696&Language=EN
- IPI: http://tinyurl.com/2bj3xw
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25044
(Photo courtesy of RSF)
(15 January 2008)
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