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US journalist kidnapped in 2012 freed by Syrian captors Kerry confirms US journalist kidnapped in 2012 freed by Syrian captors
(34 minutes later)
Kidnappers in Syria on Sunday freed a US journalist missing since 2012 following Qatari efforts to win his release, al Jazeera reported. The American journalist Theo Curtis has been released after being kidnapped in Syria two years ago, Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed on Sunday.
The Qatari-owned television station named the journalist as Peter Theo Curtis, and said he had been handed over to a representative of the United Nations. Kerry said in a statement that the US was using “every diplomatic, intelligence and military tool” at its disposal to secure the release of other Americans held hostage in Syria.
His reported release happened just days after the Islamic State militant group fighting in Iraq and Syria issued a video shown the beheading of American journalist James Foley. The news of Curtis’ release came just days after Islamic State (Isis) militants killed the American journalist James Foley, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. Kerry called Foley’s death, which was filmed by Isis and released, an “unspeakable tragedy.”
That video, together with a threat to kill another American journalist being held hostage, Steven Sotloff, inspired widespread revulsion in the West and a desire to hunt down the killer. The Qatari-owned television station al-Jazeera reported Curtis’s release, saying he had been handed over to a representative of the United Nations.
The video of Foley’s death, together with a threat to kill another American journalist being held hostage, Steven Sotloff, inspired widespread revulsion in the west and a desire to hunt down the killer.
On Sunday the British ambassador to the US, Sir Peter Westmacott, said UK secret services were close to identifying Foley’s killer.
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that about 20 journalists are missing in Syria. Many of them are believed to be held by Islamic State.The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that about 20 journalists are missing in Syria. Many of them are believed to be held by Islamic State.
In a video statement released by Curtis’s kidnappers at some point during his captivity, Curtis said he was a journalist from Boston, Massachusetts, Al Jazeera reported. In a video statement released by Curtis’s kidnappers at some point during his captivity, Curtis said he was a journalist from Boston, Massachusetts, al-Jazeera reported.
Commenting on his treatment in that video, Curtis said he “had everything” he needed and “everything has been perfect, food, clothing, even friends now”. Commenting on his treatment, Curtis said he “had everything” he needed and “everything has been perfect, food, clothing, even friends now”.