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July 03, 2007

Kidnapped BBC Reporter Freed

Great news from Gaza, via Fox News:

Kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston was released after nearly four months in captivity in Gaza, FOX News confirmed with a Hamas spokesman Tuesday.
Johnston, a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corp., was not seen after the announcement, but the Islamic militant group said he was in the custody of its military wing and meeting with deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.
The release was announced by the Islamic militant group's TV and also confirmed in a text message from Hamas to The Associated Press.
There were no further immediate details.

Johnston was videotaped last month wearing an explosive belt, warning that his captors would detonate him if a rescue was attempted. Thankfully that did not happen. It will be interesting to hear the behind-the-scene details as they emerge. Johnston's release comes nearly one year after Fox News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam as the price of their freedom, along with an alleged ransom payment of $2 million.

Another interesting point is that the Army of Islam is also believed to be responsible for the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped in June 2006 in Gaza. As Hamas continues their publicity campaign to be seen as the force of stability and law-and-order in the Palestinian territories, maybe they will put the pressure on for Shalit's freedom.

Posted by: noburqa at 08:38 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 237 words, total size 2 kb.

1 He'll be singing their praises in about two days.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at July 03, 2007 10:17 PM (yJKSD)

2 No glory to crimials who change their minds.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 03, 2007 10:21 PM (visiI)

3 JC he will say what he wants to say. But what he probably wont do is giving a flying fuck what you think.

Posted by: rob at July 03, 2007 10:54 PM (jjgx5)

4 vicki thanks for posting the good news. normally its howie that likes to post british related stuff here but i dont think he likes to be fair and balanced !

Posted by: rob at July 03, 2007 10:58 PM (jjgx5)

5 Am I the only person who is thinking that Hamas has had more to do with this kidnapping than miraculously freeing Mr. Johnston? Hamas recently took over Gaza, certainly this was not a spur of the moment operation. It must have been planned for many months in order to gain enough materiel and support to undertake the operation. The ability of Hamas to bring about the release of a captured western journalist would go a long way to show that Hamas is a group that western powers can work with. Perhaps Hamas planned the kidnapping and subsequent release or at least had knowledge of the kidnapping and only acted on the knowledge when it was beneficial for them?

Posted by: Mark at July 03, 2007 11:13 PM (zz60k)

6 Vicki beat me to the post. Go vicki. And no I'd call the sons of bitches animals for kidnapping him to start with.....

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2007 11:26 PM (YHZAl)

7 Let us all drink a pint to him. He's a lucky man.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 04, 2007 12:03 AM (visiI)

8 But what he probably wont do is giving a flying fuck what you think.

Of course not. I'm not one of the "downtrodden" pizza parlour mass murderers he's so fond of. Being held hostage only makes the Leftards love these koranimals more.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at July 04, 2007 12:34 AM (yJKSD)

what I find so interesting about this story...it that he was being held by an Islamic terrorist organization.....in Gaza.....that is more radical than Hamas and is very strong and fighting Hamas. The middle east never stops amazing me, a radical Islamic terror org fighting a slightly less radical Islamic terror organization, which is fighting a slightly less radical islamic terrorist organizationâ€¦it is like a Russian nesting egg of crazy Islamic terrorist organizations over there, lol

Posted by: james at July 04, 2007 12:53 AM (jbrHP)

10 Here james let me help you. $$$$$$$$$. Less radical terror oraginztion buys prisoner from more radical error organization at discount. Both need and made money.

Posted by: Howie at July 04, 2007 12:04 PM (YHZAl)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !

USA, ALL THE WAY !

Posted by: Michael Weaver at July 04, 2007 02:38 PM (2OHpj)

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