David Rohde

8 Stories

Suspect Nabbed in Kidnap of US Journalist

Afghan man could face life sentence

(Newser) - An alleged former Taliban commander accused of kidnapping an American journalist in Afghanistan 12 years ago has been arrested and brought to the US. According to an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, 42-year-old Haji Najibullah faces charges including hostage taking, conspiracy, and kidnapping, and could get a life...

Pakistan Freed Captors of NYT Reporter

It's more evidence of ties between government, Taliban

(Newser) - An investigative piece by the Nation about what happened in the aftermath of an American reporter's escape from his captors demonstrates yet again that Pakistan's secretive ISI agency maintains close ties with the Taliban. The case revolves around New York Times reporter David Rohde, who was kidnapped and held 7...

Film of Neda's Death Wins Top Journalism Prize

Anonymous Iranians get Polk Award for iconic footage

(Newser) - The anonymous Iranians who filmed and distributed footage of a protester's death last year have been awarded one of journalism's top prizes. Neda Soltan's death has become "an iconic image of the Iranian resistance," said the curator of the George Polk Awards. It's the first time the American...

NYT Reporter Recounts 7 Months as Prisoner

David Rohde begins first-person account of capture, escape

(Newser) - New York Times reporter David Rohde begins a gripping first-person account of his 7 months as a Taliban prisoner in Afghanistan before he managed to escape. In the first of the five-part series, he writes of his capture ("I waited for the sound of gunfire. I knew I might...

Kidnapped Times Reporter Freed in Deadly Rescue

Afghan interpreter, British commando die in operation

(Newser) - A New York Times reporter held hostage by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan was freed today when British troops raided the militants' compound, but his Afghan interpreter and a British commando were killed during the rescue. Stephen Farrell was abducted Saturday while covering the aftermath of the NATO strike on...

Times Reporter Planned Escape for Weeks

Newspaper was prepared to pay $5M ransom to Taliban

(Newser) - David Rohde escaped from the Taliban only after weeks of planning, taking advantage of a length of rope to aid his descent down a 20-foot wall, the New York Times reports. The journalist and his Afghan colleague waited until a night when the city had electrical power, so the sound...

Media Kept Quiet on Journalist's Kidnapping

Times convinced all to put reporter's safety first

(Newser) - Media outlets ranging from major newspapers to blogs agreed to stay quiet on the kidnapping of New York Times reporter David Rohde, who escaped Taliban captors Friday after seven months, out of fear for his safety, reports the Washington Post. Times executive editor Bill Keller decided sit on the story...

NYT Reporter Escapes Taliban After 7 Months

(Newser) - A reporter for the New York Times held by the Taliban for 7 months in the tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan has escaped, the paper says. The Times kept David Rohde’s abduction secret out of concern for his safety and had been in sporadic contact with him and...

8 Stories