American journalist ‘is kidnapped by armed group in Baghdad’, Iraqi officials confirm
Iraqi officials have confirmed that an American journalist was kidnapped by an armed group in Baghdad.
Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter based in the Middle East and Afghanistan, was kidnapped by an unidentified group of men near her hotel in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday.
The Iraqi interior ministry confirmed that ‘a foreign journalist was kidnapped by unidentified persons’ and added that security forces were tracking the perpetrators.
“The pursuit resulted in the stopping of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned while trying to escape,” the ministry said, confirming the arrest of a suspect. he said.
The journalist was reportedly taken near the Palestine Hotel on Al-Saadoun Street in central Baghdad. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
Although a suspect has been arrested, his current whereabouts are unknown.
Kittleson, who has written for publications such as Al Monitor, Foreign Policy and The National, has reported in Iraq and the Middle East.
He was in Baghdad to investigate the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter based in the Middle East and Afghanistan, was kidnapped by an unidentified group of men near her hotel in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday.
Iraqi officials confirm journalist was kidnapped by armed group in Baghdad
Kidnappings of journalists in Iran are often linked to militia activities, as reported before.
In September, Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was released after being kidnapped by Iraq’s pro-Iran group Kataib Hezbollah.
This is breaking news. More to follow.
