Kotaro Ogawa
Year: 2004
Nationality:
Killed by: Political Group
Location: Mahmoudiya , Iraq
Press organization: freelance
What's Kotaro Ogawa's story?
Shinsuke Hashida and his nephew Kotaro Ogawa, both freelance journalists, were killedalong with their translator when their car came under attack by Iraqigunmen near Mahmoudiya, 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of the capital,Baghdad, according to news reports. Bangkok-based freelancer Hashida and Ogawa had been traveling to Baghdadfrom the southern city of Samawah, where Japan deployed hundreds oftroops, when the attack occurred. Agence France-Presse listed thetranslator as Mohamed Najmedin. The Associated Press reported that the men were working for the Japanesetabloid daily Nikkan Gendai covering Japanese troops stationedin the southern city of Samawah. Japanese TV channel NHK reportedthat the two journalists had also worked for several other Japanesenews organizations. According to press reports, the journalists’ car burst into flamesafter the attack. AFP and Reuters reported that the car was hit byrocket-propelled grenade fire. The driver, an Iraqi who survived theattack, told NHK that he was able to exit the car before it exploded. Hashida’s body was badly burned in the fire. The AP reported thatOgawa’s body was found six miles (10 kilometers) from the wreck. Japanesepress reports said that Ogawa might have been executed by the gunmenafter fleeing or being taken away from the scene. Hashida was an experienced journalist who had covered several conflictsas a TV reporter, according to Japanese media reports.
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