British counter-terror police have been called in over the sudden death abroad of a young Fleet Street reporter who has been running a hugely popular podcast on the war in Ukraine.
David Knowles, 32, died suddenly on Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest while on holiday in Gibraltar.
His weekday, award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest was launched by The Daily Telegraph at the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.
In tears, one of his co-hosts Dominic Nicholls announced his colleague’s death at the start of the latest episode: “Folks, I’ve got some bad news. Our beautiful friend David Knowles died suddenly at the weekend after a health emergency.”
David Knowles. Pic: David Rose/Telegraph
Police and the coroner in Gibraltar are investigating the death and the results of a post-mortem examination are expected soon.
The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) said in a statement: “A policing ‘mutual aid’ request for specialist support was submitted to UK policing, although there are no specific concerns at this time with regard to the death.
“Following the RGP’s mutual aid request, detectives from UK Counter Terrorism Policing have been appointed to provide support to the RGP investigation, due to their existing capability and their experience of dealing with international enquiries.”
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The Metropolitan Police confirmed its officers were involved in the investigations and said in a statement: “Due to the existing capability and experience of dealing with international enquiries, support to the RGP is being provided by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing.
“Primacy for the investigation remains with RGP and any further enquiries in relation to this should be directed to them.”
A spokesman for Mr Knowles’s family said: “We note the statement from the RGP today about David, particularly the assertion that ‘there are no specific concerns at this time with regard to the death’.
“We do not wish to say anything further while the authorities continue their investigations and ask that the family’s privacy be respected.”
David Knowles. Pic The Telegraph/YouTube
In 2023, Knowles was included on the Russian foreign ministry’s list of sanctioned British media workers who are banned from entering Russia.
The foreign ministry said Knowles and the other journalists were “implicated in fabricating fraudulent anti-Russia stories to be promoted in the media”.
The Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, Andy Slaughter, paid tribute to Mr Knowles in the House of Commons on Thursday and called for a debate on the importance of investigative and public interest journalism.
He said: “Can I pay tribute to Telegraph journalist David Knowles, creator of the brilliant Ukraine: The Latest podcast who tragically died last weekend at the age of only 32?
“I’m sure (House of Commons Leader Lucy Powell) will join me in sending condolences to David’s family and friends.”