Prominent journalist killed in apparent car bomb assassination

A prominent journalist was killed in a car bombing in Ukraine‘s capital, Kiev, on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the Ukrainian journalist community that was shaped by the gruesome killing of the publication’s founder 16 years ago.

The country’s top online news website Ukrainska Pravda said its journalist Pavel Sheremet died in an explosion early on Wednesday as he got into his car to drive to work to anchor a talk show on a local radio station.

The publication said the car was owned by its editor-in-chief Olena Prytula. Images from the scene showed the charred car stranded in the middle of a cobbled street.

Zoryan Shkiryak, adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said in a Facebook post that an improvised explosive device was planted underneath the car. Shkiryak said the device was either a delayed-action bomb or was remotely operated. It’s believed to have contained up to the equivalent of 600 grams of TNT.

Interior Minister Khatiya Dekanoidze said in televised comments at the scene of the crime that she will personally supervise the investigation.

“We are looking at all theories,” she said, adding that solving the murder is “very important, a matter of honor” for the Kiev police.

Russia’s Novaya Gazeta quoted several friends and family of Sheremet and his partner Prytula saying that they had complained about being followed.

Read More- CBS News

Image courtesy of Getty