The 48-year-old freelance photographer died on 19 May when Thai military forces launched a violent offensive against a Red Shirt protesters camp. Polenghi had been in Thailand for several days covering the violence for an European magazine.

The freelance photographer, who worked with Grazia Neri on several assignments, has been published in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle among many other publications. He had a solo show in Paris at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and also worked as a documentary filmmaker.

Dario Pignatelli, a photographer with Reuters and Polaris, has confirmed the death. He wrote today, on his Twitter account: "Confirming Italian photographer, collegue and friend Fabio Polenghi died this morning after being shot in the stomach."

The Associated Press reports that Polenghi was wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet when shot in the stomach. He died after being carried to a Bangkok hospital (see related Reuters picture here).

"The toll on the media has been heavy, while many others have only narrowly escaped death," says the press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders. "We are stunned and outraged by the indiscriminate nature of this assault, which shows that the Thai authorities made little attempt to protect journalists in their desire to suppress the Red Shirt opposition."

It adds: "We call for an independent investigation into Fabio Polenghi's death, including an autopsy and a ballistic study carried out in a transparent manner and, if necessary, with the help of foreign experts."