New York Times Reporter Freed, Interpreter Killed in British Raid

Abducted New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was rescued in northern Afghanistan in a raid that killed his Afghan interpreter and a British commando early Wednesday morning. Gunmen had seized Farrell and his interpreter, Sultan Munadi, on Saturday while they were reporting on the aftermath of a deadly NATO airstrike near Kunduz. The Times said it had kept the kidnapping quiet "out of concern for the men's safety."

The rescue operation was a British-planned mission, as Farrell holds dual Irish-British citizenship, and was carried out with the support of U.S. forces. When "British nationals are kidnapped, we and our allies will do everything in our power to free them," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement. Farrell said that he and Munadi heard an approaching helicopter, then gunfire. Munadi ran forward screaming, "Journalist!" but was cut down by a hail of bullets from Taliban gunmen. Farrell dove into a ditch until he recognized British voices, and called out that he was a British hostage.

Farrell has been reporting for the Times' Baghdad bureau since 2007, and has a strong reputation among the people of Afghanistan. Munadi had worked regularly with the Times and other news organizations, and was studying for a public policy degree in Germany. He planned to combat illiteracy in Afghanistan by working in public education.

For details: Times Reporter Is Freed in Afghan Raid That Kills Aide [New York Times]