Sabawoon Kakar, a video journalist with RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, died from injuries sustained in a double suicide bomb attack on April 30, 2018, in Kabul, Afghanistan, that left over 25 dead, among them at least nine journalists including Kakar, RFE/RL reported.
Kakar was one of the first journalists to arrive at the scene of the first suicide attack, RFE/RL reported. He was severely injured in the second blast that occurred when the attacker, disguised as a media worker, detonated his explosives in a scrum of reporters, according to media reports and RFE/RL.
Kakar died from his injuries at a Kabul hospital several hours after the blast, according to his employer.
Kabul police said the bomber deliberately targeted the press.
The extremist group Islamic State issued an online statement the same day that claimed responsibility for the attacks, which also injured at least 45 people, according to The Associated Press.
Kakar, 30, often covered the aftermath of suicide attacks and other dangerous news situations, Qadir Habib, a senior editor at Radio Azadi, told RFE/RL describing the journalist as “a brave man.”
Kakar worked for RFE/RL’s Afghan service for five years and reported on counterterrorism operations, regional security, and social issues in Afghanistan, RFE/RL reported. One of Kakar’s last articles before his death was on a battle between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants.