Foreign Office 'in contact with family' of British journalist killed in Syria

The Foreign Office has today confirmed that "it is aware of reports of the death of a British national" in Syria and that it is "in contact with his family".

It is believed that Walid Bledi, a freelance journalist and British national, died on Monday (26 March) in the town of Darkoush near the Turkish border.

He was reportedly filming a documentary about Syrians feeling to Turkey.

Last week the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that two men died and a third was injured when "the Syrian army, along with plainclothes militiamen known as 'Shabiha', began shooting at the home [where the team were staying on] Monday morning, according to the witness interviewed by CPJ".

It was reported that the two journalists killed were both British nationals of Algerian descent. It is now understood that the other man who died in the attack was not British.

Meanwhile, reports elsewhere say Syria is cracking down on citizen journalists and press freedom in the country.

CNN reports that the "Syrian government is trying to 'systematically dismantle' the anti-regime 'citizen journalist network' and have seized a key player in the operation" according to activists.

The broadcaster says Ali Mahmoud Othman, who was "instrumental in the evacuation of the wounded journalists from inside the Homs' neighborhood of Baba Amr", was arrested on Wednesday (28 March) and, according to an activist, is thought to be being tortured.

Ten journalists have been killed in Syria since November, making it the most dangerous place for journalists in the world, CPJ research shows.

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