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BBC Investigation Indicates Former Syrian Regime Planned Abduction of U.S. Journalist Austin Tice
Just the facts
An investigation conducted by the BBC reported that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad directly approved the kidnapping of American journalist Austin Tice. According to sources cited in the report, Syrian security officials coordinated the abduction over several weeks prior to Tice's capture in 2012. Tice was operating as a freelance journalist covering the conflict when he was detained at a checkpoint. The finding provides new details regarding the state mechanism behind the long-standing disappearance of the American reporter.
Why this is news
A BBC investigation revealed that the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria was planned weeks in advance by government officials. Tice disappeared near Damascus in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.