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Journalist Killed by Afghan Police Officer Foreign Journalist Is Killed by Afghan Police Officer
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A Pulitzer-prize winning photographer for The Associated Press was killed and a reporter from the news agency was wounded by a police officer in eastern Afghanistan on Friday. KABUL, Afghanistan — A Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for The Associated Press was killed and a reporter from the news agency was wounded by a police officer in eastern Afghanistan on Friday.
Anja Niedringhaus, 48, a photographer who had covered numerous conflicts, and Kathy Gannon, 60, a reporter, were shot in Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan where they had traveled to cover preparations for the country’s presidential election on Saturday. Both had spent many years covering the war in Afghanistan and knew the country well. Anja Niedringhaus, 48, a photographer who had covered numerous conflicts, and the reporter, Kathy Gannon, 60, were shot in Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan, where they had traveled to cover preparations for the country’s presidential election on Saturday. They had each spent many years covering the war in Afghanistan and knew the country well.
Ms. Gannon, who was shot twice, was receiving treatment at a hospital in the city of Khost, the provincial capital. The A.P. said that she was in stable condition and talking to medical personnel. An official from the American-led coalition later said that Ms. Gannon was being evacuated by foreign forces to one of the main NATO bases in the country, where there is a hospital equipped to handle severe battlefield traumas. Ms. Gannon, who was shot twice, was receiving treatment at a hospital in the city of Khost, the provincial capital. The A.P. said she was in stable condition and talking to medical personnel. An official from the American-led coalition later said Ms. Gannon was being evacuated by foreign forces to one of the main NATO bases in the country, where there is a hospital equipped to handle severe battlefield trauma.
“Anja and Kathy together have spent years in Afghanistan covering the conflict and the people there,” said Kathleen Carroll, the executive editor of the news agency. “Anja was a vibrant, dynamic journalist, well loved for her insightful photographs, her warm heart and joy for life. We are heartbroken at her loss.”“Anja and Kathy together have spent years in Afghanistan covering the conflict and the people there,” said Kathleen Carroll, the executive editor of the news agency. “Anja was a vibrant, dynamic journalist, well loved for her insightful photographs, her warm heart and joy for life. We are heartbroken at her loss.”
Afghan police officers and soldiers have shot and killed scores of troops from the coalition in recent years, and at times have turned on civilians working with foreign forces. But the attack on Friday was believed to be the first time an Afghan police officer had intentionally killed a foreign journalist.Afghan police officers and soldiers have shot and killed scores of troops from the coalition in recent years, and at times have turned on civilians working with foreign forces. But the attack on Friday was believed to be the first time an Afghan police officer had intentionally killed a foreign journalist.
Afghan and Western officials say they believe most of the so-called insider attacks have been driven by personal animosity or anger about the war in Afghanistan, where many have come to view foreign forces as occupiers. The authorities declined to speculate on what motivated the shooting Friday and there was no immediate claim of credit from the Taliban, which boasts of having infiltrators in the Afghan security forces and often takes credit when soldiers or the police turn on foreigners. Afghan and Western officials say they believe that most of the so-called insider attacks have been driven by personal animosity or anger about the war in Afghanistan, where many have come to view foreign forces as occupiers. The authorities declined to speculate on what motivated the shooting Friday and there was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Taliban, who often boast of having infiltrators in the Afghan security forces and often take credit when soldiers or the police turn on foreigners.
Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon had spent Thursday night at the compound of the provincial governor in the city of Khost, and had left on Friday morning with a convoy of election workers delivering ballots to an outlying area in Tanai district, The A.P. and Afghan officials said. Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon had spent Thursday night at the compound of the provincial governor in Khost, and had left on Friday morning with a convoy of election workers delivering ballots to an outlying area in the Tanai district, The A.P. and Afghan officials said.
The convoy was protected by the Afghan police and soldiers and operatives from the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency, said Mubarez Zadran, a spokesman for the provincial government. Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon were in their own car, traveling with a driver and an Afghan freelance journalist who was working with the news agency. The convoy was protected by the Afghan police and soldiers and by operatives from the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency, said Mubarez Zadran, a spokesman for the provincial government. Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon were in their own car, traveling with a driver and an Afghan freelance journalist who was working with the news agency.
After the convoy arrived at the government compound in Tanai, Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon were waiting in the back seat for the convoy to start moving again when a police commander approached the car and looked through its windows. He apparently stepped away momentarily before wheeling around and shouting “Allahu akbar” — God is great — and opening fire with an AK-47, witnesses and The A.P. said. His shots were entirely directed at the back seat. After the convoy arrived at the government compound in Tanai, Ms. Niedringhaus and Ms. Gannon were waiting in the back seat for the convoy to start moving again when a police commander approached the car and looked through its windows. He apparently stepped away momentarily before wheeling around and shouting “Allahu akbar!” — God is great — and opening fire with an AK-47, witnesses and The A.P. said. His shots were entirely directed at the back seat.
Ms. Niedringhaus was killed instantly.Ms. Niedringhaus was killed instantly.
The police commander, identified by the authorities as Naqibullah, 50, then surrendered to other officers and was arrested. Witnesses said he was assigned to the force guarding the government compound and was not one of the officers traveling with the election convoy.The police commander, identified by the authorities as Naqibullah, 50, then surrendered to other officers and was arrested. Witnesses said he was assigned to the force guarding the government compound and was not one of the officers traveling with the election convoy.
Ms. Niedringhaus, a German who joined The A.P. in 2002, was part of a team of photographers who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for the news agency’s coverage of the war in Iraq. Ms. Niedringhaus, a German citizen who joined The A.P. in 2002, was part of a team of photographers who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for the news agency’s coverage of the war in Iraq.
Ms. Gannon, who is Canadian, has spent three decades covering Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was one of the few Western reporters who the Taliban permitted to work in Kabul when the Islamist militants ruled Afghanistan. Ms. Gannon, who is Canadian, has spent three decades covering Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was one of the few Western reporters who the Taliban permitted to work in Kabul when they ruled Afghanistan.