Turkish photographer Burhan Ozbilici of the Associated Press in Istanbul has won the 60th World Press Photo Press Awardfor an image of the murder of the Russian ambassador in Ankara.
Burhan Ozbilici defeated another 5,034 photographers from 125 countries to the first prize in one of the most prestigious professional photography contests in the world. The jury affirms that it was a very difficult decision but that it is a very significant photograph that portrays "the hate of our time".
Ozbilici went to the photographic exhibition in which the events happened by chance, since he did not cover the event, but it coincided in his way from the work to his home. During the presentation, in which the Russian ambassador gave a speech, an off-duty Turkish policeman drew a gun and fired Karlov nine times, shouting that it was a vengeance on Russia's part in the conflict in Syria. Ozbilici assures that at that moment he felt that it was his professional duty to take that photograph.
The competition prize is 10,000 euros and a selection of Canon camera equipment. The winning images will be shown at a traveling exhibition opening in Amsterdam on 14 April and continuing to visit 99 other cities during the year.
