The Afghan photographer Massoud Hossaini has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize, in the Breaking News Photography category for his picture titled “Kabul Bombing”.

Massoud Hossaini

Massoud Hossaini (مسعود حسینی) was born in Kabul on December 10, 1981, during the occupation by the Soviet Union. His family fled Afghanistan to Iran when he was six-months old after his father, a supporter of the opposition to the occupation was arrested by the communist regime. After finishing high school in 1996, Hossaini chose photography. The dangers of carrying a camera in the streets of Tehran forced Hossaini to go to Mashhad, a city he had travelled through when fleeing Afghanistan, to photograph Afghan refugees. After the 9/11 attacks and the U.S. War on the Taliban, Hossaini returned to Afghanistan in the beginning of 2002 and joined Aina org. which was a cultural centre funded by National Geographic photographer, Reza Deghati. He furthered his photographic education under award-winning photographer Manoocher Deghati, and was soon being hired for professional assignments. In 2007, Hossaini joined the Agence France-Presse and has been covering the War on Terrorism since.

The 2012 Pulitzer Prize: Breaking News Photography

Tarana Akbari, 12, screams in fear moments after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a crowd at the Abul Fazel Shrine in Kabul on December 06, 2011.