04 July 2007

Alan Johnston freed

BBC journalist Alan Johnston has been freed after 16 weeks as a hostage in Gaza. He was handed over to Hamas officials early this morning. A witness said he was well, but had lost a lot of weight.


Speaking after his release, Mr Johnston said: "It's the most fantastic thing to be free...It became almost hard to imagine normal life again... Now it really is over and it is indescribably good to be out."


Alan Johnston had been the only western correspondent working full-time in Gaza when he was taken hostage on 12 March by the Army of Islam, an al-Qaida-inspired group. The Army of Islam had also been involved in the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who remains in captivity in Gaza.

7 comments:

FatBlokeThin said...

It is great news and It was nice to hear hisn voice on the radio this morning especially as one of his first thougths was for others suffering in Palastine and mroe widely the constant loss of life in the ranks of conflict journalists throughout the world.

A man that makes me proud to be a human being.

Anonymous said...

Great news indeed ...and I read it here first!

jams o donnell said...

It definitely was good news. I feared for the worst

Siani said...

I got this news in my inbox in the wee, small hours, and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I'd feared the worst, including vile beheading footage circulating around the Net. But thankfully, he's free.

jams o donnell said...

Me too Siani. I'm glad it turned that way

Roland Dodds said...

I look forward to hearing about his experience on Larry King, just as soon as he finishes up on important stories and individuals like Paris Hilton.

jams o donnell said...

Don't hold your breath unlest there are more Brzezinskis out there in journo-land!