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Fears for BBC Gaza correspondent | Fears for BBC Gaza correspondent |
(20 minutes later) | |
The BBC says it is concerned for the safety of a correspondent who has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. | The BBC says it is concerned for the safety of a correspondent who has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. |
The corporation said it had been unable to contact Alan Johnston, but did not comment on Palestinian reports that he had been kidnapped. | The corporation said it had been unable to contact Alan Johnston, but did not comment on Palestinian reports that he had been kidnapped. |
Johnston's car was found abandoned in Gaza City shortly after he left his office to drive home. | Johnston's car was found abandoned in Gaza City shortly after he left his office to drive home. |
Several journalists and aid workers have recently been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been released unharmed. | Several journalists and aid workers have recently been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been released unharmed. |
Johnston has been the BBC's correspondent in the Gaza Strip for the past three years. | Johnston has been the BBC's correspondent in the Gaza Strip for the past three years. |
"We are currently unable to contact him and are concerned for his safety," the BBC said in a statement. | "We are currently unable to contact him and are concerned for his safety," the BBC said in a statement. |
"We are trying to gather as much information as possible." | "We are trying to gather as much information as possible." |
'Experienced reporter' | |
Details of what happened are sketchy. Palestinian police said four gunmen were seen in the vicinity of where Johnston's car was found. | Details of what happened are sketchy. Palestinian police said four gunmen were seen in the vicinity of where Johnston's car was found. |
Palestinian Interior Minister Sayeed Sayyam said Johnston's disappearance was a "criminal act". | Palestinian Interior Minister Sayeed Sayyam said Johnston's disappearance was a "criminal act". |
Palestinian security forces have set up checkpoints around Gaza and are searching for the correspondent. | Palestinian security forces have set up checkpoints around Gaza and are searching for the correspondent. |
The BBC described Johnston, one of the few Western correspondents remaining in Gaza, as a "highly experienced and respected reporter". | |
"It is his job to bring us day after day reports of the Palestinian predicament in the Gaza Strip," said the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams, himself a former Middle East reporter. |