Al-Arabiya
December 3, 2009, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Three journalists were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a Benadir University graduation ceremony in the capital, Mogadishu.

In all, the explosion claimed the lives of at least 23 people, including several top government officials, according to news reports. Zubeyr, a cameraman for Al-Arabiya television, and Mohamed Amin, a Radio Shabelle reporter, were pronounced dead at the scene. Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir, a freelance photographer, died at a local hospital later in the day.

Minister of Information Dahir Mohamud Gelle told reporters that the suicide bomber was a suspected Al-Shabaab insurgent who was targeting government ministers attending the ceremony at the Hotel Shamo. Gelle said Health Minister Qamar Aden, Education Minister Ahmed Abdullahi, and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan were killed. The minister of sports and tourism, Suleiman Olad Roble, died two days later from injuries suffered in the attack.

Zubeyr, 29, was a technician at Radio Shabelle before he left in 2006 to work as a cameraman for Al-Arabiya, exiled journalist Babuul Nur told CPJ. Zubeyr was survived by a pregnant wife and four children.

Medium:Television
Job:Camera Operator
Beats Covered:Culture, War
Gender:Male
Local or Foreign:Local
Freelance:No
Type of Death:Crossfire/Combat-Related
Suspected Source of Fire:Political Group

 

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