Al-Anbagy, a 36-year-old news anchor and director at Diyala, part of the U.S.-backed Iraq Media Network, was shot dead in Za’toun neighborhood in the city of Baaquba, east of Baghdad, while covering a football match, sources at the broadcaster told CPJ.
Al-Anbagy was interviewing one of the team’s coaches when gunmen opened fire, killing both men. Al-Anbagy was shot in the head. Diyala sources said they believe al-Anbagy was killed because of his on-air criticism of insurgent groups and former Baathists. The sources said al-Anbagy had received several death threats for his reporting.