FOX News crew kidnapped in Gaza... including a reporter

[Brent]

on Drudge.

Two FOX NEWS journalists kidnapped in Gaza...
Reporter Steve Centanni, freelance cameraman from New Zealand abducted...
NETWORK SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMS... GIVES NO FURTHER DETAILS... DEVELOPING...

[southerngale]

Oh my gosh...Steve!!??

I had just heard about this, but hadn't heard any names.

[southerngale]

Steve Centanni

[TexasStooge]

Oh, jeez!!

[stormtruth]

Sounds like the kidnappers knew they were taking journalists.

The men, along with a bodyguard, were parked near the headquarters of the Palestinian security services when two trucks filled with gunmen pulled up and boxed them in, according to the employee. The gunmen took the two out of their sports utility vehicle, which was marked "TV," and drove away, he said.

Its a Fox News url but an AP story.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208322,00.html

[Lindaloo]

Oh no! Poor Steve.

[x-y-no]

Prayers for their safe return.

[bfez1]

Poor. Steve. I have been watching but never heard them give out the names of those who were kidnapped. Praying for their safe return.

[southerngale]

They name the cameraman now.

A Fox spokeswoman in New York named the two journalists as correspondent Steve Centanni, an American, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, from New Zealand.

A Fox news report said the network did not know who had seized them but that "negotiations were under way to secure their release".

I pray they're released soon.


http://today.reuters.com/news/articlene ... rss&rpc=22

[Janice]

Oh, I remember him. I am so sorry for his family.....

[southerngale]

This was linked from Drudge the first day, an email from the Fox News Senior VP.

Fox News employees kidnapped: Around-the-clock updates

Please keep Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig in your thoughts and prayers.


Monday, Aug 14
FNCers Kidnapped In Gaza: "Pray For Their Release. I Will Keep You Posted" --Moody
FNC senior VP John Moody's internal message to Fox News personnel about the kidnapping:

"The rumors are true: two of our employees have been abducted in Gaza. We will report this fact via our Israel correspondents. Do NOT do any other segments on it. Do not book guests on this topic. Do not comment officially and of course, not on the air, about it. DO pray for their release. I will keep you posted."

If you'll go to the link above under "Around-the-clock updates" you can get more info than I've found anywhere else. Also, you can click on August 2006 under Archives and see the earlier reports, somewhere I believe it talks about why Fox News isn't reporting much on it, which seems to be a smart move, although frustrating to worried fans.

[Brent]

Al-Jazeera has aired a videotape of the two. They seem to be in very good condition.

The Holy Jihad Brigades, a previously unknown group, has claimed responsibilty and wants Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails released within 72 hours.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14481230/

[Audrey2Katrina]

I'm still VERY concerned for their safety. These are NOT normal people we're dealing with here, and you KNOW they're not about to release all the prisoners in a trade. I can only hope that enough pressure from other Islamic groups dissuade them from doing anything ghastly. I've seen Steve Centanni hundreds of times, reporting from this place or that. But lest we forget--these folk have lots of renegade offshoots and this just may be one of 'em...anyone remember Daniel Pearl? God protect them and bring them home safely!

A2K

[bfez1]

I am praying they release Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig soon.

[Brent]

On top of all this other news, they have been RELEASED!

[pojo]

They are safe and sound...

[streetsoldier]

Yes, they are...but by "converting" to Islam (even though at gunpoint), then recanting, Centanni and Wiig can never report from an Islamic country again.

The shari'a penalty for spurning Islam is death (but, it's perfectly OK to convert someone by armed coercion)...this would give a new group the "authority" to execute them.