Frédéric Nérac

Who was Frédéric Nérac?

Frédéric Nérac is a French journalist, reported missing in Iraq from 22 March 2003. On 21 October 2005 he was officially declared dead, though no body has been found.

Frédéric Nérac was covering the Invasion of Iraq for the UK-based ITN television network as an independent journalist, as opposed to journalists "embedded" with US or UK military units.

On 22 March 2003, in Bassora, two vehicles of ITN were taken in a cross-fire between US and Iraqi forces. One of the vehicles, carrying Terry Lloyd and Daniel Demoustier, was destroyed. The second vehicle, carrying Nérac, apparently managed to escape to cover, and disappeared. British forces and French officials investigated the area; US authorities were reported to be unhelpful in the search.

On 21 October 2005, Nérac was declared dead by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2006, citing an anonymous diplomatic source, Georges Malbrunot said that he believes Nérac was executed by Ba'athists and buried in the Az Zubayr cemetery.