World News: British photographer killed by mortar attack in Libya

Published on Wednesday 20 April 2011 10:44

AN award-winning British photographer was one of two journalists killed in an apparent mortar attack while covering the Libyan conflict in the besieged city of Misrata.

Tim Hetherington, an Oscar-nominated film-maker and conflict photographer, is reported to have been killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while capturing images of fighting between Colonel Gaddafi's forces and Libyan rebels.

American colleague Chris Hondros, 41, was also killed in the attack, while a number of other journalists were injured.

The New York-based photographer, who worked for Getty Images, died after being seriously injured, according to the company.

He had covered conflict zones since the late 1990s including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The deaths came as Col Gaddafi's forces continued to pound Misrata, the last rebel-held city in western Libya, which has come under weeks of relentless shelling. An estimated 300 civilians have died in the attacks.

Mr Hetherington wrote on his Twitter profile: "In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Gaddafi forces. No sign of Nato."

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