Japanese journalist taken hostage in Syria three years ago released

World

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese journalist held hostage by Islamist militants after being captured in Syria three years ago has been released and would be brought home as soon as possible, Japan’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Japanese diplomats in Turkey confirmed the released man was Jumpei Yasuda, a 44-year-old freelancer who was reported to have been captured by an al Qaeda affiliate after entering Syria from Turkey in 2015. Yasuda subsequently appeared in videos released online by his captors.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had earlier voiced relief, while still waiting for confirmation of the identity of the freed man.

Both Abe and Kono thanked Qatar and Turkey for their cooperation in freeing the man. The government’s top spokesman said earlier that no ransom was paid for his release.

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