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Argentinian Prosecutor Who Accused President of Bomb Plot Cover-Up Found Dead

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Argentine prosecutor Nisman, who is investigating the 1994 car-bomb attack on the AMIA Jewish community center, speaks during a meeting with journalists at his office in Buenos Aires
Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman at his office in Buenos Aires May 29, 2013.Marcos Brindicci—Reuters
By Naina Bajekal

Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor who accused Argentina’s President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of covering up an investigation into the bombing of a Jewish center, was found dead in his apartment bathroom, authorities said Monday.

Nisman had been investigating a 1994 car bomb attack at a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and injured hundreds more. In 2006, Nisman and a fellow prosecutor accused Iran of orchestrating the attacks; Iran has consistently denied the charges.

According to the Argentine Security Ministry, Nisman was found dead on Sunday in his apartment in Buenos Aires, next to a handgun and bullet casing.

Nisman was due to take part in a closed-door parliamentary hearings on Monday to reveal the details of his allegations against President Fernandez.

The Clarin daily reported that just a few days earlier, he had told the newspaper, “I could end up dead because of this.”

Prosecutor Viviana Fein told reporters that the state will be determining the cause of death in the coming days.

[Reuters]

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Write to Naina Bajekal at naina.bajekal@time.com