Anadolu Agency editor passes away in Ankara

ANKARA (AA) – Ossama Awad Elshamy, an editor for Anadolu Agency’s English-language news service, died early Tuesday at Ankara’s Numune Hospital.

Ossama, 31, was hospitalized on the evening of June 5 after suffering a serious head injury.

He was admitted unconscious to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he was treated for severe cerebral bleeding.

He never regained consciousness.

Police are currently investigating the circumstances that led to his injury.

Ossama is survived by his wife and two young sons.

His family joined him in Ankara in 2015 when Ossama was appointed as an editor for the agency’s English-language service late 2014.

He was later made responsible for the service’s Middle East and North Africa desk.

Ossama was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Egyptian parents.

He later moved to the U.S. with his parents, where he received U.S. citizenship and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Mason University in Virginia in 2010.

After receiving his degree, he worked for several television stations, including an internship for ABC News and hosted a local talk show devoted to Muslim issues.

In 2011, Ossama moved to Cairo, where he worked for the local English-language press.

His family intends to send his body to Egypt for burial.