Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
Tue Dec 18, 2012, 06:16 AM Dec 2012

Richard Engel and NBC News team freed from captors in Syria

NBC News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and members of his network production team were freed from captors in Syria after a firefight at a checkpoint on Monday, five days after they were taken prisoner, NBC News said early Tuesday.

“After being kidnapped and held for five days inside Syria by an unknown group, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his production crew members have been freed unharmed. We are pleased to report they are safely out of the country,” the network said in a statement.
The captors were unidentified and were not believed to be loyal to the Assad regime.

Engel, 39, along with other employees the network did not identify, disappeared shortly after crossing into northwest Syria from Turkey on Thursday. The network had not been able to contact them until learning that they had been freed on Monday.
<snip>
After entering Syria, Engel and his team were abducted, tossed into the back of a truck and blindfolded before being transported to an unknown location believed to be near the small town of Ma’arrat Misrin. During their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound, but otherwise not physically harmed, the network said.

Early Monday evening local time, the prisoners were being moved to a new location in a vehicle when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation and a firefight ensued. Two of the captors were killed, while an unknown number of others escaped, the network said.
<Snip>
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/18/15985279-richard-engel-and-nbc-news-team-freed-from-captors-in-syria?lite

NBC was trying to keep this quiet. They even asked some to delete their info about it.
Glad they are out!


13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Richard Engel and NBC News team freed from captors in Syria (Original Post) Are_grits_groceries Dec 2012 OP
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Skittles Dec 2012 #1
Thank God!! PCIntern Dec 2012 #2
Great news! HappyMe Dec 2012 #3
whoops, I didn't see this thread eShirl Dec 2012 #4
k&r Little Star Dec 2012 #5
So glad! blogslut Dec 2012 #6
5 days! First I've heard of it. So glad Engel and team are free. The Wielding Truth Dec 2012 #7
good news! nt irisblue Dec 2012 #8
Rebels. nt Bonobo Dec 2012 #9
Very very good news. hlthe2b Dec 2012 #10
So happy to see this. Thanks! n/t gkhouston Dec 2012 #11
I saw Engel & his 2 colleagues on The Today Show this morning catbyte Dec 2012 #12
Welcome news! Greybnk48 Dec 2012 #13

catbyte

(34,414 posts)
12. I saw Engel & his 2 colleagues on The Today Show this morning
Tue Dec 18, 2012, 09:24 AM
Dec 2012

Sounds like it was pretty harrowing, complete with mock executions. I'm very glad they're all safe.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Richard Engel and NBC New...