Khatab, a driver for the U.S. cable news network CNN, was killed in an ambush in
the outskirts of Baghdad, CNN reported. CNN producer Duraid Isa Mohammed was
also killed in the attack.
The network said Khatab and Mohammed died of multiple gunshot wounds after
their two-car convoy came under fire from unidentified assailants. A bullet
grazed the head of cameraman Scott McWhinnie, who was traveling in the second
vehicle, CNN said. He was treated at a nearby military base. The remaining
members of the convoy –two CNN journalists, a security adviser, and the second
driver–were unharmed.
According to CNN, the vehicles were headed north toward Baghdad when a
rust-colored Opel approached from behind. A single gunman with an AK-47,
positioned through the sunroof, opened fire on one of the vehicles. CNN’s vice
president for international public relations, Nigel Pritchard, told CPJ that
both CNN cars were unmarked and the attackers may not have been aware they were
journalists.