A US journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad and a search is underway, Iraqi officials say
Iraqi officials say an American journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad and security forces are pursuing her captors.
apnews.com
-
Adults Only Website 18+
If you are under 18 you are not permitted to submit personal information to us or use this website. If discovered you will be banned.
We will ban and report anyone posting illegal content.
We will ban any forum user who breaks our terms.
Freedom of speech should be wide open as long as it doesn't incite violence.
We have a 15 year old thriving community here with 400,000+ members and hundreds of people online at any given moment, we encourage you to join!, there are 1000's of topics to discuss. Please be aware before registering and read our terms of service and privacy policy.
By dismissing this notice and proceeding, you agree to the above.
Serious Journalist Kidnapped In Iraq
- Thread starter Monkman777
- Start date
apnews.com
Got more info on this?
BBC:
www.bbc.com
Full quote:
"A US freelance journalist has been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and one of the suspects is linked to an Iran-backed militia, Iraqi and US officials say.
Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles.
The Iraqi interior ministry said security forces had chased the reporter's abductors in a pursuit that resulted in one of the kidnappers' cars overturning and the arrest of one suspect.
A US state department official said an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities.
Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist, without naming Kittleson.
He posted on X: "The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible."
It is understood that US officials had contacted Kittleson a number of times to warn of threats against her, including as late as Monday night.
The US state department said in a statement to the BBC: "Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time."
Al-Monitor, which is based in the US, said local news reports indicate Kittleson was taken near a hotel in the heart of the capital.
It added that the state department had confirmed it "is aware of Kittleson's kidnapping and working with the Iraqi government to secure her release".
Al-Monitor said it was "deeply alarmed" by her kidnapping, and called "for her safe and immediate release".
An Iraqi official confirmed to the BBC's US partner CBS that local authorities were working "at the highest level" to release Kittleson.
Kittleson's emergency contact Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst, told CBS that Kittleson had been warned by the US government about a specific threat to her from Iran-backed paramilitaries.
Kataib Hezbollah was said to be plotting to kidnap or kill female journalists.
Plitsas said Kittleson had been warned that her name was on a list in Kataib Hezbollah's possession. A second source confirmed she had been told of a risk, but thought it was false information.
The interior ministry statement said in a statement translated from Arabic: "Security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers' movements."
It added: "The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to escape."
The interior ministry did not identify the suspect, calling the abductors "unknown individuals".
"The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman, and to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law," it added.
Kittleson, based in Rome, Italy, has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. According to her bio on social media, she has worked for numerous publications.
The FBI, National Security Council, state department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service were in contact about her abduction, sources familiar told CBS.
Baghdad was once notorious for kidnappings, but abductions have decreased as the security situation in Iraq has improved in recent years."
US journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Baghdad
The US state department says a suspect in her abduction has ties to an Iran-backed militia group, Kataib Hezbollah.
www.bbc.com
Full quote:
"A US freelance journalist has been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and one of the suspects is linked to an Iran-backed militia, Iraqi and US officials say.
Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles.
The Iraqi interior ministry said security forces had chased the reporter's abductors in a pursuit that resulted in one of the kidnappers' cars overturning and the arrest of one suspect.
A US state department official said an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities.
Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist, without naming Kittleson.
He posted on X: "The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible."
It is understood that US officials had contacted Kittleson a number of times to warn of threats against her, including as late as Monday night.
The US state department said in a statement to the BBC: "Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time."
Al-Monitor, which is based in the US, said local news reports indicate Kittleson was taken near a hotel in the heart of the capital.
It added that the state department had confirmed it "is aware of Kittleson's kidnapping and working with the Iraqi government to secure her release".
Al-Monitor said it was "deeply alarmed" by her kidnapping, and called "for her safe and immediate release".
An Iraqi official confirmed to the BBC's US partner CBS that local authorities were working "at the highest level" to release Kittleson.
Kittleson's emergency contact Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst, told CBS that Kittleson had been warned by the US government about a specific threat to her from Iran-backed paramilitaries.
Kataib Hezbollah was said to be plotting to kidnap or kill female journalists.
Plitsas said Kittleson had been warned that her name was on a list in Kataib Hezbollah's possession. A second source confirmed she had been told of a risk, but thought it was false information.
The interior ministry statement said in a statement translated from Arabic: "Security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers' movements."
It added: "The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to escape."
The interior ministry did not identify the suspect, calling the abductors "unknown individuals".
"The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman, and to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law," it added.
Kittleson, based in Rome, Italy, has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. According to her bio on social media, she has worked for numerous publications.
The FBI, National Security Council, state department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service were in contact about her abduction, sources familiar told CBS.
Baghdad was once notorious for kidnappings, but abductions have decreased as the security situation in Iraq has improved in recent years."
Id bet my entire life savings that she is one of those dumbfucks who think deep down everyone is full of love and empathy like all her faggy friends in her leftist bubble
ilovemuzzies
Lurker
Any hot middle eastern men want me
djdeeds
Constantly laughing at the world
... and now she knows exactly what stinky Arab cock smells like !
Tuomas Woorhees
If i dont see ugly, how to know beauty.
…and a best selling book.
JG Ballard
I want MY cigarettes!!!
They'll send her back...one piece at a time.
No maybe they should send some more journalists🤣
Stupid bitch, her own fault for being in an islamic shithole.
