Alan Johnston news stories on Newser

Hamas Frees Kidnapped Lioness

Dustin Lushing — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:23:10 CDT

Hamas soldiers yesterday freed Sabrina the lioness in a raid on a Palestinian crime gang that kidnapped her 20 months ago. The four-month-old cub and a pair of Arabic-speaking parrots were snatched from the Gaza zoo, and Sabrina was left to languish in a dark cell where curious spectators snapped...

Johnston Tells of 'Appalling,' 'Terrifying' Ordeal

Wesley Oliver — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:00:00 CDT

Alan Johnston's 16 weeks in captivity were an "appalling" experience that made him feel "buried alive," the BBC reporter tells the Evening Times of Glasgow. Johnston, freed yesterday, said he dreamed of freedom "but always woke up in that room." In Jerusalem yesterday after being released in Gaza, he said...

Johnston Release Boosts Hamas

Caroline Miller — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 08:40:11 CDT

Alan Johnston's release after 12 weeks in captivity was used by Hamas today to separate itself from the al-Qaeda-inspired kidnappers, and to assert its ability to secure order in Gaza, the BBC reports. The freed reporter was taken to the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, who was outsted as...

BBC Reporter Freed in Gaza

Caroline Miller — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:28:42 CDT

Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter held by an Islamist faction in Gaza for 114 days, was released early today, saying it was "fantastic" to be free. The reporter was handed over to officials of Hamas, now in control of the Gaza Strip, by his captors, a militant splinter group called...

Captors Threaten to Kill Kidnapped BBC Reporter

Sam Gale Rosen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:15:52 CDT

A newly released video shows kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston wearing an explosive belt that his captors say will be detonated if a rescue attempt is made. The video deflates hope that Hamas would be able to negotiate Johnston's release after taking control of the chaotic Gaza strip. Johnston's family...

Abductors Release Video of Kidnapped BBC Reporter

Sam Gale Rosen — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 07:37:06 CDT

In a video posted on the Internet today, a captured BBC reporter says he is in good health and has been well treated. It is unclear when the footage of a beleaguered-looking Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped in Gaza City March 12, was taken. Toward the end of the footage,...

Group Claims Kidnapped BBC Reporter Is Dead

Peter Fearon — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:05:42 CDT

An obscure Palestinian group claims to have murdered a veteran BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza a month ago. There is no confirmation of the claim and a Palestinian Authority official, Saeb Erekat, said: “I urge those who abducted Johnston, instead of circulating rumors, and I hope these rumors are only...