Family: International Journalist From New Hampshire Kidnapped In Syria
BOSTON (CBS) – The family of an international journalist from New Hampshire says he has been kidnapped in Syria.
James Foley went missing 41 days ago while covering the civil war there.
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His family in Rochester, New Hampshire announced the news online Wednesday saying he was kidnapped in northwest Syria by unknown gunmen on November 22.
"We want Jim to come safely home, or at least we need to speak with him to know he's okay," his father John Foley said in a statement.
"Jim is an objective journalist and we appeal for the release of Jim unharmed. To the people who have Jim, please contact us so we can work together toward his release."
Ribbons have already been placed on trees in the Foley family's Rochester neighborhood.
Longtime friends and neighbors are praying for a safe return.
Foley is 39 years old.
He's worked as a freelance reporter across the Middle East, including Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, for years.
He most recently filed video reports to Agence France-Press from Syria.
Foley was detained in Libya for 44 days back in 2011 while working for Boston-based GlobalPost. CEO Philip Balboni released this statement Wednesday:
"Over the past nearly six weeks we have been working intensively with many parties in the United States and in the Middle East to secure Jim Foley's freedom so he can return home to his loving family. Jim is a brave and dedicated reporter who has spent much of the past year covering the civil war in Syria, believing like so many of his colleagues that this is a very important story for the American people to know more about. We urge his captors to release him."
Global Post says Foley was not on assignment for them.
His family has created a website freejamesfoley.org for more information and updates.
