Editing Simon Cumbers

{{Short description|Irish journalist}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
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| name               =  Simon Cumbers<!-- include middle initial, if not specified in birth_name -->
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| death_place        = Saudi Arabia
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| occupation         = Journalist
| years_active       = 1988–2004
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'''Simon Cumbers''' (23 January 1968 – 6 June 2004) was an Irish [[Camera operator|cameraman]] for the [[BBC News]] in the United Kingdom. He was shot and killed by a gunman in a terrorist attack while reporting in [[As-Suwaidi (Riyadh)|As-Suwaidi]], [[Riyadh]], Saudi Arabia.<ref name=theguardian1>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jun/08/broadcasting.guardianobituaries|title=Obituary: Simon Cumbers|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=Guerin, Orla|author-link=Orla Guerin|date = 8 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref> His colleague [[Frank Gardner (journalist)|Frank Gardner]], who was also shot, survived the terrorist attack but was left paralysed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/bbc-reporters-muslim-plea-after-riyadh-shooting-pl6b00l8xvx|first=Ronan |last=McGreevy|title=BBC reporter's Muslim plea after Riyadh shooting|work=[[The Times]]|date=7 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=sky>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/277631/shot-tv-reporter-flies-back-home|title=Shot TV Reporter Flies Back Home|work=[[Sky News]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Simon Cumbers was the son of Robert (Bob) and Bronagh (Brona) Cumbers. The couple raised their two boys Simon and Stephen and two girls Eimear and Catraoine in [[Navan]], [[County Meath]], [[Ireland]].  Simon Cumbers was educated at [[St. Patrick's Classical School]].<ref name=meathchronicle>{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2009/07/01/41126-don034t-execute-our-son034s-killer034-navan-family034s-plea-to-saudis/|title="Don't execute our son's killer": Navan family's plea to Saudis|work=Meath Chronicle|date=1 July 2009|accessdate=3 May 2015|location=[[Navan]]|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212718/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2009/07/01/41126-don034t-execute-our-son034s-killer034-navan-family034s-plea-to-saudis/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cumbers married Louise Bevan, a journalist for [[BBC News 24]] and [[Radio 5 Live]].<ref name=bbc1>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3782189.stm|title=Obituary: Simon Cumbers|work =[[BBC News]]|date = 7 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref>

Cumbers was 36 years old at the time of his murder and he was buried at Redwood Cemetery, [[Greystones]], [[County Wicklow]], Ireland.<ref name=meathchronicle /><ref name=cpj>{{cite web|url=https://cpj.org/killed/2004/simon-cumbers.php|title=Simon Cumbers|publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists}}</ref>

==Career==
While a student at St Patrick's, he was editor of the school magazine, ''Tuairim''; features writer for ''[[Drogheda Independent]]'', ''Ipswich Evening'' and ''[[Meath Chronicle]]''; and hosted a radio show for Royal County Radio, a local pirate radio station.<ref name=meathchronicle /><ref name=pressgazette>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/simon-cumbers-journalist-and-cameraman/|title=Simon Cumbers: journalist and cameraman|work= [[Press Gazette]]|date = 17 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref> He started reporting for ''The Weekender''.<ref name=theguardian2>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jun/07/bbc.iraqandthemedia|title='Loyal and generous of spirit': tributes to Cumbers flood in|author=Cozens, Claire|date = 7 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Around the age of 20, he started as a [[rookie]] and advanced to chief reporter for Capitol Radio (now called [[FM104]]) in [[Dublin]], Ireland.<ref name=pressgazette /><ref name=irishtimes1>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/tributes-paid-to-slain-cameraman-1.1143848|title=Tributes paid to slain cameraman|author= Newman, Christine; Beesley, Arthur| date=8 June 2004|access-date = 5 May 2020|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref name=irishtimes2 /> In 1990, Cumbers moved to the United Kingdom to work with a variety of British broadcasters, including [[ITN]]'s [[Channel 4 News]], [[Channel 4 Daily]], [[Sky News]], [[Associated Press|APTN]], and the [[BBC]].<ref name=theguardian1 /><ref name=bbc1 /><ref name=cbsnews>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bbc-reporter-shot-critical/|title=BBC Reporter Shot, Critical|date=8 June 2004|access-date= 5 May 2020|work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> Cumbers worked both as a journalist and a producer. In the late 1990s, he retrained and became a cameraman as well, establishing Locum Productions with his wife and BBC journalist Louise Bevan, to supply camera crews to broadcasters.<ref name=pressgazette /><ref name=bbc2>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4919756.stm|title=BBC man 'was unlawfully killed'|work=[[BBC News]]|date=18 April 2006|access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="Locum">{{cite web | url=http://www.locum-productions.com/company_profile.htm | title=Company profile | publisher=Locum Productions Limited | accessdate=23 October 2013}}</ref> Among the stories Cumbers reported on were the 1989 death of [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] during the [[Romanian Revolution]]; the 1990 release of [[Brian Keenan (writer)|Brian Keenan]] in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]; the late 1990s [[Drumcree conflict]]; the [[Good Friday Agreement]] and [[Omagh bombing]] in 1998, the [[Kursk submarine disaster]] in 2000, and the [[2004 Madrid train bombings]].<ref name=pressgazette /><ref name=meathchronicle /><ref name=irishtimes2 /><ref name=bbc2 /> He had also interviewed [[Muammar Gaddafi]] in Libya.<ref name=itv />

== Death ==
<!--begin wikitable-->{{Location map+|Saudi Arabia|AlternativeMap = |relief=1
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 | width = 280
 |caption= Simon Cumbers was killed in Al-Suwaidi, Saudi Arabia shown relative to the capital Riyadh.
 |alt = Al-Suwaidi, Saudi Arabia
 |places=
  {{Location map~ | Saudi Arabia
  |lat_deg=24 |lat_min=41 |lat_sec=16.8054 |lat_dir=N
  |lon_deg=46 |lon_min=43 |lon_sec=20.7599 |lon_dir=E 
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}}<!--end wikitable-->Journalist [[Frank Gardner (journalist)|Frank Gardner]] and Cumbers were assigned to report on the aftermath of the May [[2004 Yanbu attack]] and [[2004 Khobar massacre|Khobar massacre]] terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, both of which had British casualties.<ref name=meathchronicle /> The British [[Foreign Office]] had advised against nonessential travel there.<ref name=cbsnews /> On Sunday morning, the team arrived in the As-Suwaidi neighbourhood of Riyadh, an ultraconservative area where [[Al-Qaeda]] was known to have a presence.<ref name=cpj /><ref name=cbsnews />

The team was in place reporting between 10 and 30 minutes and a man, later identified as Adel al-Dhubaiti, greeted the journalists and then opened fire on them. This was followed by shooting from five others who were waiting inside a van. Cumbers was killed at the scene, while Gardner attempted escape but was seriously injured.<ref name=cpj /> Cumbers' killer was later sentenced to death.<ref name=bbc3>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30092029|title=Simon Cumbers: BBC man's killer sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia|date = 18 November 2014|access-date = 20 March 2019 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

Cumbers' death was considered a murder in the UK. In Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Dhubaiti was arrested in 2004. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death in November 2014, and executed on 2 January 2016. Cumbers' parents spoke out against his execution.<ref name=cpj /><ref name=irishtimes2>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/simon-cumbers-s-killer-executed-in-saudi-arabia-1.2483590|title=Simon Cumbers's killer executed in Saudi Arabia|author= Jansen, Michael|date=3 January 2016|access-date = 5 May 2020|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref name=newstalk>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstalk.com/Killer-of-Irish-journalist-Simon-Cumbers-believed-to-be-one-of-47-executed-by-Saudi-Arabia|title=Killer of Irish journalist Simon Cumbers believed to be among 47 executed by Saudi Arabia|work=[[News Talk]]|date = 2 January 2016|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=independent>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/family-of-bbc-cameraman-murdered-in-saudi-terror-attack-regret-killers-death-sentence-9868344.html|title=Family of BBC cameraman murdered in Saudi terror attack regret killer's death sentence|author=Green, Chris|date=18 November 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref>

Gardner wrote a book, ''Blood and Sand'', published in 2010, about his reporting in Saudi Arabia and the attack on him and Cumbers.<ref name=bas>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZoHRggqKt8C&q=%22Simon+Cumbers%22|title=Blood and Sand|publisher= [[Random House]]|author= Gardner, Frank|author-link= Frank Gardner (journalist)|date = 2010|isbn=9781446421123}}</ref>

== Context ==
A week before Gardner and Cumbers reported from Saudi Arabia, twenty-two foreigners were taken hostage and killed by [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|a faction of Al-Qaeda]] during a shooting rampage, known as the Khobar massacre, in an eastern oil hub. The attack was an attempt by Islamic radicals to try to drive out foreigners. This act of violence made oil prices increase rapidly. The leader of the attack was [[Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin]].<ref name=cpj /><ref name=leader>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jun/21/guardianobituaries.alqaida|title=Obituary: Abd al-Aziz al-Muqrin|publisher=The Guardian (UK)|date=21 June 2004|accessdate=21 March 2016}}</ref>

Later in the same month that Cumbers was killed, US citizen [[Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr.|Paul M. Johnson Jr]] was beheaded in Saudi Arabia.<ref name=pmj>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/18/saudi.kidnap/|title=CNN.com – Al Qaeda militants kill American hostage – Jun 18, 2004|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

== Impact ==
A year after Cumbers' death, [[Irish Aid]] established the Simon Cumbers Media Fund in honour of his memory. The fund's aim is to help, assist, and promote better quality media coverage of issues in the Irish media.<ref name=irishtimes2 />

Cumbers was one of the 48 British and Irish journalists who were killed while reporting abroad between 2001 and 2010.<ref name=itv>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2012-03-08/in-remembrance-journalists-who-gave-their-lives-for-their-trade/|title=In remembrance – journalists who gave their lives for their trade|work=[[ITV News]]|date = 8 March 2012|access-date =  5 May 2020|author= Neeley, Bill}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
[[Koïchiro Matsuura]], the director-general of [[UNESCO]], condemned the attack. His statement said, "I condemn this attack which targeted two media professionals carrying out their professional work, and who were investigating the ruthless al-Qaeda terrorist network. It is no coincidence that the enemies of freedom and democracy attack media professionals whose work upholds the values of freedom, enshrined in the United Nations Charter, and of freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."<ref name=unesco>{{cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15907&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415153155/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D15907%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2005|title=UNESCO Condemns Attack on BBC Journalists in Saudi Arabia|access-date=29 November 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

UK Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] said, "We have to be vigilant and get out and get after them and make sure we deal with this (terrorism) issue."<ref name=cbsnews />

A spokesperson for the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] said, "We deplore this deadly attack on our colleagues and call on Saudi authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice in a timely manner."<ref name=ifex>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifex.org/saudi_arabia/2004/06/07/cpj_calls_on_authorities_to_apprehend/|title=CPJ calls on authorities to apprehend perpetrators of attack on BBC cameraman and reporter|work=IFEX|date=7 June 2004}}</ref>

[[Stewart Purvis]], a former chief executive of ITN, said, "These are tragic circumstances and they are very dangerous for any media presence in Saudi Arabia."<ref name=bbc1 />

==See also==
* [[Terrorism in Saudi Arabia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://simoncumbersmediafund.ie/ Simon Cumbers Media Fund]
*[http://www.locum-productions.com/ Locum Productions]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbers, Simon}}
<!--- Categories --->
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Assassinated Irish journalists]]
[[Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists]]
[[Category:FM104 presenters]]
[[Category:People educated at St Patrick's Classical School]]
[[Category:Terrorism deaths in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:2004 murders in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Saudi Arabia in 2004]]
[[Category:People from Navan]]
[[Category:Murder victims from County Meath]]
[[Category:People assassinated in the 21st century]]