An American journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, the nation’s Inside Ministry stated, and authorities are pursuing and looking for the abductors.
An Inside Ministry assertion offered few particulars in regards to the incident and recognized solely a “overseas journalist.” However Fox Information and CBS Information recognized the reporter as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer.
CNN nationwide safety analyst Alex Plitsas posted on X that he was his level of contact.
He wrote: “I can affirm that my buddy Shelly Kittleson has been kidnapped and will have been taken hostage in Baghdad by Khatib Hezbollah. Her whereabouts and situation are unknown. I’m her designated level of contact in the US. When you’ve got any info, please present it to legislation enforcement and ship me a DM.”
Kittleson has contributed to Al-Monitor, Overseas Coverage, BBC World Service and Politico, amongst different publications.
In a press release, Al-Monitor stated: “We’re deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday. We name for her protected and speedy launch. We help her very important reporting within the area and name for her immediate return to proceed her vital work.”
The Inside Ministry stated the journalist “encountered an incident of kidnapping by unknown individuals and specialised safety forces instantly dispatched their duties to pursue the criminals, primarily based on exact info from intelligence companies and an intensive effort on the bottom to trace the trail of the abductors.”
“The pursuit and manhunt led to the confinement of the kidnapper’s wheel, which overturned as they tried to flee, the place safety forces have been capable of arrest one of many suspects and seize one of many wheels used within the crime.”