David Knowles, 32, passed away on Sunday from a suspected cardiac arrest while on holiday in Gibraltar. Knowles was known for his award-winning podcast, Ukraine: The Latest, launched by UK-based The Daily Telegraph during the Russian invasion in 2022.
The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) confirmed a "mutual aid" request had been made to the UK for specialist support in their investigation. UK counter-terrorism officers have been assigned to assist, based on their experience with international cases. However, the RGP has said that "there are no specific concerns at this time with regard to the death."
Knowles had been a journalist with The Telegraph since 2020. The family Knowles, while acknowledging the police's statement, has asked for privacy during the ongoing investigations.
A family spokesperson of Knowles said: “We note the statement from the RPG 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.”
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Authorities in Gibraltar are conducting a formal investigation, with the local coroner informed. A postmortem examination is scheduled for Thursday, as part of the ongoing inquiries into Knowles' sudden death.
A spokesperson from UK counter-terrorism policing emphasized that their support was requested due to their existing expertise in handling complex, cross-border investigations.
The RGP maintains control of the investigation.