The British journalist John Cantlie, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, is apparently still alive. The UK’s Minister for Security, Ben Wallace, announced today at a press conference. Cantile is still in captivity of the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS), it said.
The war photographer reported on the civil war in Syria when he was kidnapped along with American journalist James Foley more than six years ago. Foley was beheaded by the Islamists in 2014 and the video was distributed via social networks.
Frequently seen in IS propaganda videos
Secretary of State Wallace said Britain does not pay a ransom for British hostages. He called Cantlie the „most prominent British hostage.“ And when he was directly asked if Cantlie is still alive, the politician affirmed the question. Details did not make Wallace according to the media.
Since his abduction Cantlie has been seen several times in IS propaganda videos. The photojournalist had to speak in a video like a reporter on various topics such as education and training, drone strikes and the Islamic jurisdiction Sharia.
Kidnapped twice in Syria
Most recently, Cantlie was seen in a video in mid-December 2016, allegedly shot on the „front“ of the fight for Mosul. In it he said, „We are in the center of Mosul further east, and behind me it looks like a scene from a Steven Spielberg movie, only that this is the reality.“
Cantlie was abducted twice in Syria. In July 2012, he was kidnapped together with the Dutch photographer Jeroen Oerlemandem, but was freed by rebels. In November of the same year, the second kidnapping by jihadists, who apparently handed him over to ISIS, happened.
