US journalist’s surprise release: Syrian rebels free Peter Theo Curtis after IS beheads James Foley
- 9 years ago
Peter Theo Curtis, a journalist from Boston, was released on Sunday almost two years after being abducted by Syrian insurgents affiliated with al Qaeda.
Curtis was handed over to United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, after a deal was brokered by Qatar. In an interview with the New York Times, Curtis’ family said no ransom was paid to his abductors.
According to Al Jazeera America, Curtis, who writes under the name Theo Padnos to protect his identity, was abducted by Nusra Front insurgents in Antakya, Turkey in October, 2012. Curtis wanted to cross the border into Syria to teach English, the Washington Post reported.
During his captivity Curtis shared a makeshift prison cell with American photojournalist Matthew Schrier, a Moroccan and a dentist whose nationality was not known.
After the other two detainees were taken away, the Americans worked on an escape plan together. Schrier stood on Curtis’ back to open up a hole in a damaged window of their basement cell. Schrier managed to escape, but Curtis could not get through the hole. Curtis told the photographer, who said he would get help, to leave.
In a video dated July 18, Curtis, in apparent distress, said he only had three days left and pleaded for help. A man wielding an automatic weapon was standing beside Curtis while the video was taped.
Curtis’ release came one week after another American reporter James Foley was beheaded by Islamic State militants. It is estimated that 20 journalists are currently missing in Syria.
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Curtis was handed over to United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, after a deal was brokered by Qatar. In an interview with the New York Times, Curtis’ family said no ransom was paid to his abductors.
According to Al Jazeera America, Curtis, who writes under the name Theo Padnos to protect his identity, was abducted by Nusra Front insurgents in Antakya, Turkey in October, 2012. Curtis wanted to cross the border into Syria to teach English, the Washington Post reported.
During his captivity Curtis shared a makeshift prison cell with American photojournalist Matthew Schrier, a Moroccan and a dentist whose nationality was not known.
After the other two detainees were taken away, the Americans worked on an escape plan together. Schrier stood on Curtis’ back to open up a hole in a damaged window of their basement cell. Schrier managed to escape, but Curtis could not get through the hole. Curtis told the photographer, who said he would get help, to leave.
In a video dated July 18, Curtis, in apparent distress, said he only had three days left and pleaded for help. A man wielding an automatic weapon was standing beside Curtis while the video was taped.
Curtis’ release came one week after another American reporter James Foley was beheaded by Islamic State militants. It is estimated that 20 journalists are currently missing in Syria.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
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Subscribe to