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BBC 'knew' about Somalia dangers | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A thorough risk assessment was carried out into an assignment in Somalia during which a BBC producer was shot dead outside a hotel, an inquest heard. | |
Kate Peyton, 39, of Beyton, Suffolk, was shot in Mogadishu in February 2005. | Kate Peyton, 39, of Beyton, Suffolk, was shot in Mogadishu in February 2005. |
BBC lawyer Anthony Hudson told the hearing in Ipswich: "The need for a very thorough risk assessment was recognised right at the outset." | BBC lawyer Anthony Hudson told the hearing in Ipswich: "The need for a very thorough risk assessment was recognised right at the outset." |
However, minders were not warned Ms Peyton and other journalists were leaving the hotel, the inquest heard. | |
Ms Peyton was in the country with reporter Peter Greste to cover aspects of the war-torn African state's development. | |
Mr Greste told the inquest he was aware of the risks involved but felt that the story of Somalia was "important". | Mr Greste told the inquest he was aware of the risks involved but felt that the story of Somalia was "important". |
He said: "Anyone monitoring Somalia would have been acutely aware that the situation was volatile. | |
"You need to be particularly careful about security. | "You need to be particularly careful about security. |
The hotel security fixer had not informed the security team or the driver in advance that we were coming out of the hotel Mohammed Olad HassanBBC World Service reporter | |
"I would never have offered to go if I didn't consider it to be important. | |
"Somalia, for almost all of the previous decade, had been uncovered." | |
Ms Peyton's sister, Rebecca, told the inquest on Monday that her sister wanted a new work contract, but felt BBC bosses doubted her commitment. | |
The inquest heard she travelled to Mogadishu, arriving at about midday on 9 February 2005. | |
She was shot two hours later while leaving a hotel used as a base by members of Somalia's transitional federal government. | She was shot two hours later while leaving a hotel used as a base by members of Somalia's transitional federal government. |
Single shot | |
Mohammed Olad Hassan, a BBC World Service reporter who was with Ms Peyton, said guards had not been told that the BBC party was leaving the hotel. | |
In a statement read by coroner Peter Dean, Mr Hassan said that the car the party was travelling in had to be parked by the roadside because the hotel compound was full. | |
Ms Peyton was said to be "enthusiastic" about the trip to Mogadishu | |
"The hotel security fixer had not informed the security team or the driver in advance that we were coming out of the hotel - as I believe he should." | |
He said Ms Peyton was standing on the road waiting to get into the car when she was hit in the back by a single shot. She died a few hours later in hospital. | |
Mr Greste told the hearing that Ms Peyton had sent him an e-mail before leaving for Somalia which read: "It sounded like a great trip." | |
He said: "I remember being quite grateful. She seemed a very enthusiastic supporter of the trip." | He said: "I remember being quite grateful. She seemed a very enthusiastic supporter of the trip." |
He also told the inquest he had e-mailed a BBC official asking for "particular attention" to be paid to security. | He also told the inquest he had e-mailed a BBC official asking for "particular attention" to be paid to security. |
Mr Greste had added in the e-mail: "I am confident that what we have proposed is as safe as we can make it." | |
The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
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