Two Afghan Journalists Killed in Radio Station Shooting, Reports Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) – Two Afghan journalists were tragically killed on Tuesday night when gunmen stormed a radio station and opened fire, according to local authorities.

The victims, both male and in their 20s, included a presenter and a reporter, who were confirmed to have died at the scene, reported Semin Hussaini, the director of Radio Hamsada. It remains unclear whether they were broadcasting at the time of the attack, and both police and Hussaini stated they had no information regarding the motive behind the violent incident in Taloqan, the capital of the northern province of Takhar.

This incident marks the second murder of journalists in Afghanistan this year. Just last month, the Taliban abducted and subsequently killed Javid Noori, a government employee who was also a part-time journalist.

Jawad Hejri, a spokesperson for the Takhar governor, mentioned that the assailants escaped and have yet to be identified, while law enforcement is actively investigating the case.

Afghan journalists have faced persistent threats from the Taliban and other Islamist militants, with 15 journalists killed in 2018, marking the deadliest year for the country’s media, according to Reporters Without Borders. The organization identifies Afghanistan, Syria, and Mexico as the three most hazardous countries for journalists to operate in.