 In February 2011, Bowen became the first British journalist to interview Muammar Gaddafi since the start of the 2011 Libyan civil war against him and the government.As the conflict progressed at least two of Bowen's notebooks were either lost or stolen.One of these notebooks was subsequently found in the remains of a military convoy, which the rebel force that attacked it say contained Gaddafi's son, Khamis.