BBC 'knew' about Somalia dangers

Kate Peyton was killed hours after arriving in Mogadishu Obituary: Kate Peyton

A thorough risk assessment was carried out into an assignment in Somalia during which a BBC producer was shot dead outside a hotel, an inquest heard.

Kate Peyton, 39, of Beyton, Suffolk, was shot in Mogadishu in February 2005.

BBC lawyer Anthony Hudson told the hearing in Ipswich: "The need for a very thorough risk assessment was recognised right at the outset."

However, minders were not warned Ms Peyton and other journalists were leaving the hotel, the inquest heard.

Ms Peyton was in the country with reporter Peter Greste to cover aspects of the war-torn African state's development.

Mr Greste told the inquest he was aware of the risks involved but felt that the story of Somalia was "important".

He said: "Anyone monitoring Somalia would have been acutely aware that the situation was volatile.

"You need to be particularly careful about security.

The hotel security fixer had not informed the security team or the driver in advance that we were coming out of the hotel Mohammed Olad Hassan BBC World Service reporter

"I would never have offered to go if I didn't consider it to be important.

"Somalia, for almost all of the previous decade, had been uncovered."

Ms Peyton's sister, Rebecca, told the inquest on Monday that her sister wanted a new work contract, but felt BBC bosses doubted her commitment.

The inquest heard she travelled to Mogadishu, arriving at about midday on 9 February 2005.

She was shot two hours later while leaving a hotel used as a base by members of Somalia's transitional federal government.

Single shot

Mohammed Olad Hassan, a BBC World Service reporter who was with Ms Peyton, said guards had not been told that the BBC party was leaving the hotel.

In a statement read by coroner Peter Dean, Mr Hassan said that the car the party was travelling in had to be parked by the roadside because the hotel compound was full.

Ms Peyton was said to be "enthusiastic" about the trip to Mogadishu

"The hotel security fixer had not informed the security team or the driver in advance that we were coming out of the hotel - as I believe he should."

He said Ms Peyton was standing on the road waiting to get into the car when she was hit in the back by a single shot. She died a few hours later in hospital.

Mr Greste told the hearing that Ms Peyton had sent him an e-mail before leaving for Somalia which read: "It sounded like a great trip."

He said: "I remember being quite grateful. She seemed a very enthusiastic supporter of the trip."

He also told the inquest he had e-mailed a BBC official asking for "particular attention" to be paid to security.

Mr Greste had added in the e-mail: "I am confident that what we have proposed is as safe as we can make it."

The hearing continues.