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| Serena Shim | |
|---|---|
| Born | Serena Shim c. 1984 |
| Died | October 19, 2014 (aged 30) Suruç, Turkey |
| Cause of death | Car accident |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Press TV |
| Children | 2 |
Serena Shim (c. 1984 – October 19, 2014) was an American journalist. While covering Siege of Kobanê as a war correspondent of Press TV, she was killed in a car crash. Her employer called the accident "suspicious".
Biography
Serena Shim, a 30-year-old American citizen of Lebanese origin covered reports for Press TV in Lebanon, Iraq, and Ukraine. She was married and had 2 children.
Covering siege of Kobanê
In October 2014, Shim was sent to Turkey on a mission, to cover the ISIL conflict. She was based on a rural district near the Syrian border, Suruç, Urfa Province.
Accusation of spying by Turkey
On October 17, Shim told Press TV that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) had accused her of "spying". She stated that it is “probably due to some of the stories she had covered about Turkey’s stance on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants in Kobanê”. She had reported that ISIL militants being smuggled over the the Turkish border into Syria on trucks bearing the symbols of NGOs like the "World Food Organisation". Shim, said on air she's "a bit frightened" by what MİT "might use against me."
Death
She died on October 19, 2014 on her way back to hotel. She was returning to Suruç with her cameraman Judy Irish, on a rental car which colided a heavy vehicle (a cement mixer, according to Hurriyet). Shim died in the crash and the cameraman was injured and taken to Suruç State Hospital. According to Hurriyet, citing the Turkish Doğan News Agency, the vehicle driver was subsequently arrested. Press TV disputed this, alleging that both driver and vehicle "have disappeared" and her death is "suspicious".
Allegations of intentional crash
Şanlıurfa Governor İzzettin Küçük, denied Press TV's claims calling them "completely baseless" and "attempts to put Turkey in a difficult situation”. Küçük stated that a detailed statement will be made after the investigations.
References
- ^ "Press TV reporter dies in 'suspicious' car crash in Suruç". Today's Zaman. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Greenslade, Roy (20 October 2014). "Iranian broadcaster raises suspicions about death of reporter on Syrian border". Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- "US JOURNALIST WORKING FOR IRANIAN TV KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT". Sabah. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Iranian TV reporter killed in Turkey car crash 1 day after 'spying accusations'". Russia Today. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "US-Lebanese reporter dies in Turkey, Iranian TV calls accident 'suspicious'". Hurriyet. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- "Mystery of American journalist killed in car crash in Turkey... just days after she claimed intelligence services had threatened her over her coverage of siege of Kobane". Daily Mail. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
