Published: Sunday February 3, 2013 MYT 3:09:00 PM
Updated: Sunday February 3, 2013 MYT 9:28:45 PM
Malaysian journalist Claudia Theophilus killed in Lebanon
By KAMATCHY SAPPANI
Claudia Theophilus PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Claudia Theophilus, 42, a producer with Al-Jazeera English Online, was killed in Baakleen, in the mountains of Lebanon at 2.30am (8.30am Malaysian time) on Saturday while on holiday with two friends.
Local police have detained the two people who were with her for questioning and initial police investigations indicate that it may have been a mishap while handling firearms.
When contacted, Ambassador Ilango Karuppannan confirmed she was shot dead but said that details remained sketchy.
He said that her body had been taken to a hospital in Baakleen and an autopsy had been done.
“We are on the way there now,” he told The Star.
He said that she had arrived in Lebanon on Jan 28 to visit her friend whom she had apparently known since 2010.
He said that, according to police investigations, the two and another friend who joined them, had been playing with rifles when one of it went off and the bullet killed her.
A statement from Wisma Putra later Sunday said that local police report had classified the death as an accident while handling a firearm but investigations continue.
Theophilus' family have been informed about her death, the statement said.
Claudia Theophilus was a producer at Al-Jazeera English Online based in Doha, Qatar. She has worked for The Sun and Malaysiakini.
Baakleen is a city located in Mount Lebanon, Chouf District, 45km southeast of Beirut.
- 600 left homeless after fire in one of Sarawak's oldest Malay villages
- NS trainee gives birth in camp toilet
- Sabah Railway train rams car driven by Hong Kong tourist, driver in critical condition
- Ex-judge calls for rebranding of vernacular schools
- Berapit rep assaulted after advising woman not to conduct open burning
- Penang freak storm: Video clip of lightning arrester collapse uploaded on YouTube

- No brotherly love - man attacked and robbed by his twin
- Black 505 rally supporters stage another flash mob in KL
- Subramaniam: Health Ministry to set up operation rooms where API exceeds 200
- Penang freak storm: Police complete probe, no human remains found in car wreckage
- Delays in KLIA2 opening affecting AirAsia's expansion plans, says CEO
- Open sale of sex stimulants in Sabah worries Kiulu rep Bangkuai
- Seven out of 12 Opposition reps in Sabah want Lajim as chief
- Robbery at sea of cargo ship being investigated, unsure if pirates involved, say police
- Fire and Rescue Department: 14 areas highly susceptible to forest fires identified
- Kulim suspended on Thursday for corporate announcement
- Petronas Dagangan eyes regional airports to expand jet fuel biz
- KLCI ends in the red, BAT, UMW down (Update)
- Gloom lifted from MRCB Southern Link as ratings upgraded
- Malaysia's May inflation rate up 1.8% on-year
- Nazir: Bank of Commerce talks to conclude shortly
- Japan's exports pick up pace, give economy momentum
- Asia business sentiment rises in second quarter, global growth risk still dominates
- Moody's: Outlook on China's life insurance industry stable
- AIA and Public Bank offer new insurance plans
- Tambun Indah plans RM200m capex to expand landbank
- Tune Ins sees healthy growth as air travel, tourism pick up
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Blue chips edge higher in volatile trade (Update)
- Eversendai tendering for RM8b of projects
- Singapore smog reaches record high (Updated)
- India monsoon floods leave 138 dead
- Turkey's 'silent man' vigils go on as protests fizzle out
- French floods claim first victim, Lourdes remains closed
- Thousands evacuated after blasts at Russian arms depot
- Bieber off hook after car hits photographer
- Mexico arrests man on FBI's top 10 Most Wanted list
- Disabled woman, US child held captive with snakes
- World's largest all-solar-powered boat shines in NYC
- Samoan airline introduces 'XL' class
- West Africa has world's worst piracy rate
- Congolese teacher admits killing elephants for ivory: WWF
- NASA enlists public in hunt for major asteroids
- Nadal seeded five at Wimbledon
- NBA: Heat beat Spurs to force game seven
- FedEx eyes record win at Wimbledon
- Brazilian Massa looking ahead to team’s revival
- V Shem-Khim Wah face tough opener in Singapore Open
- Springboks’ De Villiers may miss final
- Results worldwide
- Former world junior champ Zulfadli in main draw
- Star Wallaby winger fit to face Lions
- Hesson laments NZ’s failure to grab chance
- Omega Pharma pin Tour hopes on Mark
- Shahidan needs Cabinet nod to hold posts, says Khairy
- Direct flight now to Naypyitaw for Malaysian SEA Games squad
- Aussie Kulacz hopes to repeat 2009 Selangor Masters triumph
- India’s Anirban relying on short putter for success
- Two-year-old makes touching request at her dad’s funeral
- Rush to escape storm proves deadly
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- CCTV to shed light on missing hawker
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Medium threatens couple with black magic
- Mentally disabled man missing since Sunday
- New DAP man turns on his party after elections
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now
- Ex-judge calls for rebranding of vernacular schools
- Inter-Pacific Research values AirAsia X at RM1.66
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- Penang freak storm: Video clip of lightning arrester collapse uploaded on YouTube
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Penang freak storm: Police complete probe, no human remains found in car wreckage
- Talks on the proposed M’sia-Spore Rapid Transit System still going on
- Hong Kong probes HSBC, other banks for alleged misconduct

