Waldemar Milewicz

TVP

May 7, 2004, in Mahmoudiya, Iraq

Waldemir Milewicz, one of Poland's most experienced war correspondents, and his producer, Mounir Bouamrane, both employed by Polish state television TVP, were shot by armed gunmen, presumably Iraqi insurgents, while riding in their car at around 9:30 a.m. in Mahmoudiya, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) south of the capital, Baghdad.

The journalists were headed toward a Polish military base in Babylon, south of Baghdad, according to Agence France-Presse.

TVP cameraman Jerzy Ernst, who was also in the car along with an Iraqi driver, was injured during the attack. Press reports quoted Ernst as saying that the main southbound highway out of Baghdad was closed, so their driver took an alternate route he thought would be safe. Ernst said their car, a sedan, came under fire from behind, and that Milewicz and Bouamrane were sitting in the back seat. After Milewicz was shot, the other passengers exited the car, but the gunfire continued, killing Bouamrane and injuring Ernst.

According to press reports, the journalists had only been Iraq for a few days.

Medium: Television

Job: Broadcast Reporter

Beats Covered: War

Gender: Male

Local or Foreign: Foreign

Freelance: No

Type of Death: Crossfire/Combat-Related

Suspected Source of Fire: Political Group

Related Articles:

• Marked for Death, May 2, 2005
• TWO JOURNALISTS KILLED , May 7, 2004