VIDEO: NBC's Richard Engel Talks Escaping Syrian Kidnappers

By: Dec. 18, 2012
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NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and two of his crew members were kidnapped last week, and held for five days before they were released by an unnamed group today. Engel appeared on THE TODAY SHOW this morning to recount his capitivity. Check out his interview below.

In the interview, he says, "We weren't physically beaten or tortured. It was a lot of psychological torture, threats of being killed," Engel said, appearing to be in relatively good spirits. "They made us choose which one of us would be shot first and when we refused there were mock shootings. They pretended to shoot Ghazi several times. And when you're blindfolded and they fire the gun up in the air, it can be a very traumatic experience."

The three were able to escape when their kidnappers began fighting with rebels on the streets of Syria, allowing Engel and the two members of his crew to flee the van in which they were being transported.

NBC has also released the following statement following their reporter's safe return: "After being kidnapped and held for five days inside Syria by an unknown group, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his production crew members have been freed unharmed. We are pleased to report they are safely out of the country."



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