The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, condemns the murder of Norwegian journalist Carsten Thomassen in Kabul. Thomassen, a reporter for the Norwegian daily Dagbladet, was killed on 14 January when militants attacked a hotel in the Afghan capital.

According to information before IPI, Thomassen, a staff-reporter for the Dagbladet, was covering a meeting held by the Norwegian embassy at Kabul’s Serena hotel, when armed militants carrying automatic weapons attacked. One of the militants detonated a suicide vest he was wearing, while the others threw grenades and fired their weapons. Although the Norwegian foreign minister, who was unhurt, was believed to be the target of the attacks, the militants chose their victims at random, concentrating on the gym and spa area of the hotel. At least six people died in the attack.

“This attack on innocent civilians is a brutal act of murder. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and the colleagues of the victims,” said David Dadge, IPI Director. “Thomassen was simply carrying out his job as a reporter, in this case reporting on an embassy meeting.”

The murder of Thomassen is the second case of a journalist being killed in Asia in only two days. On Sunday, Nepalese journalist Pushkar Shrestha was shot to death by armed individuals believed to be members of the militant group Janatantri Terai Mukti Morcha.