Journalist shot dead in Somalia

A journalist working with Radio Shabelle was shot dead near Bakara Market in the Somali capital Mogadishu this morning. Abdirisak Warsameh Mohamed was reportedly on his way to work when he was caught in crossfire and shot in the chest. There has been an upsurge in violence in the capital in recent weeks between government forces and AlShabab militia. The National Union of Somali Journalists have released a statement,

He was killed as he was crossing the road at Wardhigley police station, according to Director of Radio Shabelle Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe. Abdirisak was on his way to Radio Shabelle when bullets hit him at the chest. His body was laying on the road for about 45 minutes as the militias was shooting every one that wanted to take his body.  In June 2008, Abdirisak Warsameh Mohamed was one of 48 Somali journalists that received safety training in Djibouti from NUSOJ and the International News Safety Institute (INSI). link

The editor at Radio Shabelle confirmed the death of Abdirisak to the AFP,

The editor of Radio Shabelle said one of its journalists was killed as he tried to flee the fighting.

“His relatives have confirmed to us that he was crossing a road to escape the fighting when he was caught in the crossfire. He died instantly,” said Abdirahman Yusuf. link