Veteran war reporter Richard Engel and his crew were freed by captors in Syria Monday after being held for five days. The NBC News chief foreign correspondent and his team are reportedly “safely out of the country” and the network says its employees were unharmed by the kidnappers.
NBC's @RichardEngel and his crew, who vanished in Syria last week, have been freed by their kidnappers, the network says.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 18, 2012
"We are pleased to report they are safely out of the country," the NBC News president Steve Capus says in a statement.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 18, 2012
Richard Engel, crew being moved last night. Vehicle stopped at Ahrar Al-Sham brigade checkpoint. Firefight ensued; 2 captors killed #engel
— Mike Allen (@mikeallen) December 18, 2012
During detention, NBC had no contact with kidnappers or NBC team. No claims of responsibility; no ransom request. Now out of Syria #engel
— Mike Allen (@mikeallen) December 18, 2012
After entering #Syria, @RichardEngel and his team were abducted, tossed into the back of a truck and blindfolded http://t.co/s6kWBFAw
— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) December 18, 2012
Richard Engel freed by #FSA Ahrar al-Sham brigade after firefight near Ma’arrat Misrin. Captors apparently not FSA or Assad regime. #Syria
— Lee Alley (@lee_alley) December 18, 2012
Friends, media colleagues and concerned citizens waking up to the news expressed their relief on Twitter.
We are so relieved that our friend @RichardEngel has been freed in Syria. He is safe and unharmed. http://t.co/XSBrfdRk
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) December 18, 2012
Richard Engel and NBC news team freed from captors in Syria http://t.co/plMoZZiO @NBCNews
— Vivian Schiller (@vivian) December 18, 2012
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Prayers answered. @NBCNews releases statement: Richard Engel and his crew are safe – after being kidnapped 5 days in Syria by unknown group.
— Savannah Guthrie (@SavannahGuthrie) December 18, 2012
Nice to wake up to good news, @RichardEngel and his crew are free, unharmed and safely out of Syria.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) December 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/KeirSimmons/status/280976836748513280
Thankful that @RichardEngel and team are safe http://t.co/9FXHXZb8
— Ian Sager (@ian_sager) December 18, 2012
So relieved to report that NBC's @RichardEngel has been released after five days in Syrian captivity.
— Harrison Golden (@harrisongolden) December 18, 2012
Good way to start the day! RT @todayshow @RichardEngel and team freed overnight after kidnapped, held for 5 days inside Syria.
— BILL HEMMER (@BillHemmer) December 18, 2012
Thrilled that @RichardEngel of NBC, an ace correspondent, has been freed from captivity in #Syria!! http://t.co/Vfhab1tl
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) December 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/newmediajim/status/280994012079456257
http://twitter.com/viewofadam/statuses/280988483886133249
Engel and his team are expected to appear on the “Today Show” this morning.
.@RichardEngel and team freed overnight after kidnapped and held for 5 days inside Syria. They join us LIVE to talk about their ordeal.
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 18, 2012
Update:
From the “Today Show” appearance:
"They kept us blindfolded, bound…It was a lot of psychological torture." –@RichardEngel
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 18, 2012
"I'm very happy to do this live shot this morning…We're in good health, we're okay" –@RichardEngel on @todayshow
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 18, 2012
"It did help a lot that we were together." –@NBCNews producer Ghazi Balkiz on kidnapping ordeal
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 18, 2012
"I'm very happy to do this live shot this morning…We're in good health, we're okay" –@RichardEngel on @todayshow
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 18, 2012
While NBC says the kidnappers were from “an unknown group,” Engel speculated on the abductors’ loyalties:
NBC's Richard Engel says he believes his kidnappers were Shiite militia loyal to Syrian government.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 18, 2012
Previously:
NBC News tries, fails, to eliminate tweets about Richard Engel’s disappearance
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