Kidnapped Spanish journalists freed in Syria after 10 months captivity
Angel Sastre, José Manuel López and Antionio Pamliega went missing in July 2015
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Your support makes all the difference.Tree Spanish journalists who were held captive in Syria for nearly 10 months have returned safely to Madrid after being freed.
Ángel Sastre, José Manuel López and Antionio Pamliega went missing in July 2015 in the Syrian city of Aleppo after travelling to the city to report on the conflict.
The three men exited a Spanish Air Force Falcon 900 executive jet with broad smiles on their faces, images from state broadcaster TVE showed. They were greeted under umbrellas by what appeared to be delighted family members and friends.
Elsa Gonzalez, president of the Spanish federation of journalists said last year that all three had travelled to Syria before, and were therefore aware of the risks and knew what precautions they needed to take.
She told AFP: "Fortunately it all ended well. It lasted longer than we wanted but it appears that they are all in very good health."
It is not yet clear who kidnapped the three, though it is suspected to have been the al-Nusra front, which is linked to Al-Qaeda.
A statement from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said all three men were safe and well, and that acting Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria had spoken to them over the telephone.
The Spanish government said that the intervention of Turkey, Qatar and other “allies and friends” had contributed to the freeing of the men, and that a plain was being sent to Turkey to fly them back from Spain.
Ms Gonzalez said the news was cause for “joy and emotion” and that “work by reporters like these elevates journalism.”
It is not known whether a ranson was paid for their release.
Previously, three other Spanish journalists were released in March 2014 after being held hostage by Syrian extremists for months.
It is widely believed that their government paid a ransom for their release, although it has not been officially confirmed.
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