Video shows US journalist held in Syria

2012-10-02 20:36

American freelance journalist Austin Tice, who had been reporting for American news organizations in Syria until his disappearance in August 2012, prays in Arabic and English while blindfolded in the presence of gunmen. (AP Photo)

Beirut - A video clip posted online shows an American freelance journalist who has been missing in Syria alive and apparently being held hostage by gunmen.

The video is the first sign of Austin Tice's condition since he disappeared in August.

Tice, a 31-year-old former Marine, had been reporting from Syria for The Washington Post, McClatchy Newspapers and others. The Tice family released a statement to several media outlets confirming it was their son in the video.

The Associated Press could not independently confirm the origin or the content of the clip, which emerged on Monday. Previous reports have indicated that Tice is in Syrian government custody.

Although the video footage shows a group of captors dressed and behaving like Islamic extremists, the clip lacks the customary form of jihadist videos.

- AP