This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-17444890
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK journalists held in Libya after Welsh mistaken for Hebrew | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two UK journalists were labelled "spies" after a militia in Libya confused the Welsh language with Hebrew. | Two UK journalists were labelled "spies" after a militia in Libya confused the Welsh language with Hebrew. |
| Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, from Carmarthen, and Nicholas Davies-Jones, from Berkshire, were picked up by the Misrata Brigade in Tripoli last month. | Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, from Carmarthen, and Nicholas Davies-Jones, from Berkshire, were picked up by the Misrata Brigade in Tripoli last month. |
| They were carrying medical supplies which had Welsh words printed on them. | They were carrying medical supplies which had Welsh words printed on them. |
| Mr Montgomery-Johnson told the BBC: "They thought this was Hebrew and we were Israeli spies." | Mr Montgomery-Johnson told the BBC: "They thought this was Hebrew and we were Israeli spies." |
| The men had been working for the Iranian broadcaster Press TV, when the militia detained them on 22 February. | The men had been working for the Iranian broadcaster Press TV, when the militia detained them on 22 February. |
| They were accused of entering the country illegally. | They were accused of entering the country illegally. |
| On March 14 they were handed over to the interior ministry after apologising for their actions. | On March 14 they were handed over to the interior ministry after apologising for their actions. |
| They flew back the the UK on Monday night. | They flew back the the UK on Monday night. |
| Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC 5Live, Mr Davies-Jones said: "It's a lot to take in." | Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC 5Live, Mr Davies-Jones said: "It's a lot to take in." |
| Mr Montgomery-Johnson said it felt "good" and was "overwhelmed". | Mr Montgomery-Johnson said it felt "good" and was "overwhelmed". |
| "We're pleased to be back with our own families because they've been through a similar ordeal," he said. | "We're pleased to be back with our own families because they've been through a similar ordeal," he said. |
| 'In trouble' | 'In trouble' |
| "While we were there we were given no information at all. Now we're overwhelmed and thankful." | "While we were there we were given no information at all. Now we're overwhelmed and thankful." |
| Before they were detained by the militia, the pair were "dancing", "having a good time" and had been filming the local council and mosque. | Before they were detained by the militia, the pair were "dancing", "having a good time" and had been filming the local council and mosque. |
| But around two hours after the pair were taken they realised they were "in trouble". | But around two hours after the pair were taken they realised they were "in trouble". |
| Mr Davies-Jones said some of the men were carrying weapons and others did not. They were kept in military barracks in the centre of Tripoli. | Mr Davies-Jones said some of the men were carrying weapons and others did not. They were kept in military barracks in the centre of Tripoli. |
| Five days after they had been taken, some of the men went to the men's hotel and picked up their filming equipment and began going through archive material. | Five days after they had been taken, some of the men went to the men's hotel and picked up their filming equipment and began going through archive material. |
| Mr Montgomery-Johnson said: "My father, who's a nurse, had given me some bandages in case we got into trouble. Some had Welsh written on and they thought this was Hebrew and we were Israeli spies." | Mr Montgomery-Johnson said: "My father, who's a nurse, had given me some bandages in case we got into trouble. Some had Welsh written on and they thought this was Hebrew and we were Israeli spies." |
| Mr Montgomery-Johnson said they were kept in cramped conditions. | Mr Montgomery-Johnson said they were kept in cramped conditions. |
| "It was a small room 3m by 3m," he said. | "It was a small room 3m by 3m," he said. |
| "The conditions were not good at all. I don't know how much I can say." | "The conditions were not good at all. I don't know how much I can say." |
| Both men had been in regular communication with contacts across Libya but said "some militias keep misbehaving". | Both men had been in regular communication with contacts across Libya but said "some militias keep misbehaving". |
| During the time the men were held, the UK embassy in Tripoli said it was following developments closely and was providing full consular support. | During the time the men were held, the UK embassy in Tripoli said it was following developments closely and was providing full consular support. |