Rémi Ochlik

Freelance

February 22, 2012, in Homs, Syria

French photojournalist Ochlik and American-born correspondent Marie Colvin were killed when their makeshift press center in Homs was struck during shelling of the city by Syrian forces, news reports said. Ochlik was reporting on the Syrian conflict as a freelancer. The central city was under the 19th consecutive day of intense bombardment by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

At least three other journalists were reported injured. Paul Conroy, a Sunday Times photographer, and Edith Bouvier, a reporter for Le Figaro, suffered leg wounds in the strike, news reports said. William Daniels, another photographer for The Sunday Times, was slightly injured, according to news reports.

By controlling local news reports and expelling or denying entry to dozens of international journalists, the Syrian government had sought to impose a blackout on independent news coverage after the country's uprising began in early 2011. Despite extremely high risk, international journalists smuggled themselves into Syria to cover the conflict.

Born in 1983, Ochlik had covered the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions of 2011 and the 2011 war in Libya, according to his website. His work had appeared in Le Monde, VSD, Paris Match, Time, and The Wall Street Journal, his website said.

Medium: Print

Job: Photographer

Beats Covered: Human Rights, War

Gender: Male

Local or Foreign: Foreign

Freelance: Yes

Type of Death: Crossfire/Combat-Related

Suspected Source of Fire: Military Officials

Related Articles:

• Journalist deaths spike in 2012 due to Syria, Somalia, December 18, 2012
• At Bayeux, war correspondents stress duty to report , October 15, 2012
• Syria detains, reportedly tortures videographer, April 2, 2012
• In Syria, killing the messenger hasn't killed the message, March 14, 2012
• Relief greets evacuation, but concern over fallen, March 1, 2012