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AP photographer continues photographing while a gunman kills Russian ambassador

by 14 Comments

Yesterday (Monday), a photo exhibition in Ankara turned into a murder scene. Andrei Karlov, Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was murdered. AP photographer Burhan Ozbilici visited the exhibition opening and documented the entire incident. At a certain point at the ambassador’s speech, Ozbilici moved closer to take photos. Then came the gunshots. Russia’s ambassador was killed. But even in all the chaos and panic – Ozbilici didn’t lose head. He kept doing his job and took photos of the gunman, which almost instantly went viral.

According to reports, it was a Turkish policeman who killed the Russian ambassador. And as the witnesses say, his motive seemed to be Russian bombing of Syria. When he pulled the gun out and started shooting, there were at least eight gunshots. People became frightened and began to panic, and in a matter of seconds the  photo exhibition turned into utter mayhem.

Despite his own fear and panic around him, Ozbilici somehow managed to stay calm. Although many photographers have died taking photos in conflict zones, he decided to take the risk. The gunman was pulling the trigger, but he wasn’t the only one who was shooting. In an article to AP Ozbilici explains what he was thinking at the moment:

I’m here. Even if I get hit and injured, or killed, I’m a journalist. I have to do my work. I could run away without making any photos. … But I wouldn’t have a proper answer if people later ask me: ‘Why didn’t you take pictures?’

The security guards ordered people to leave the gallery, and nobody else got hurt. Shortly after, ambulance and armored vehicles arrived, and the gunman was later killed in a shootout.

The whole world is shocked by the news. I can’t imagine how traumatic it was for those who were there at the time.  But thanks to a brave and extremely professional photographer, we are left with some of the most powerful and shocking documentary photos of this year.

Do you think Ozbilici is professional and brave, or you think what he did was insane?

[via Stuff]

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  • I think he should have to do something instead of doing photography , Human is most important then trp ur tv ? channel

  • Lol…oops

  • Over 300 years? Is America so good it was bombing people 60 years before it was founded?

  • It’s because of this lack of self preservation to get “the shot” (pun intended) that so many photographers die each year in preventable situations.

  • He killed a Russian diplomat because he blamed Russia for the fall of Aleppo to the force of President Assad. Get your facts straight before you decide to strap a bomb to your chest.

  • Mike S.

    There’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity. Because he lived to tell the story, he’s brave. Had he gotten shot and died, people would be calling him stupid for giving his life for some photos.

  • From a photographer’s point of view..I would have done the same. Many won’t agree. But the reason behind it isn’t always so plain and simple.

  • I applauded his professionalism and bravery. The same way a good member of the law enforcement agencies put their lives in the line every day to protect the population that the serve, it is the same way the field journalists put their lives in danger every time they decide cover a dangerous location, simply to let let the rest of the world know what’s happening. congratulations and thank you to Ozbilici.

  • Well, obviously, the camera was on a tripod. Nothing proves the photographer was still behind it…

    • dustbusterz

      ummmmm yes, the fact that once the shooting starts, the tripod moves, as if to try to get the shooter into the frame actually does prove the cameraman is still there.

    • Kaouthia

      The video camera was on a tripod. The photographer’s camera was not. Burhan Ozbilici was hand holding his camera, as can easily be seen in some the images released by photographer Yavuz Alatan, who also covered the event.

  • Especially if you get paid to cover that False Flag event.

  • johnny

    Killing the ambassador won’t change anything, bacause Russians have bet big on al-Assad. They can’t afford to lose.

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