Hostage Market Arrest


Romanian-Syrian Businessman Omar Hayssam

Authorities have arrested a Romanian-Syrian businessman in connection with the capture of three Romanian journalists:

Romanian authorities have arrested a Romanian-Syrian businessman in connection with the kidnapping of three Romanian reporters in Iraq eight days ago.

It was not immediately clear if he would face charges or how he was connected to the March 28 abduction of the three journalists, who official sources said were still alive.

“Romanian citizen Omar Hayssam was detained,” presidency spokeswoman Adriana Saftoiu told reporters on Tuesday. “Other related actions are under way in Bucharest and Baghdad. Any other information at this time would risk efforts to rescue the kidnapped journalists.”

So, will the Romanians cave?

Romanian Senate speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu told reporters after a meeting with the Iraqi ambassador in Bucharest, Adel Murad, that the abductors were most likely after money.

“I am optimistic because as I understand from the ambassador there seems to be a known group with material, not political, interests behind the abduction,” Vacaroiu was quoted as saying by the state Rompres news agency.

Grateful to Washington for its support in shedding communism, Romania is a staunch U.S. ally with 800 troops in Iraq. But about 55 percent of Romanians want the troops to come home.

The Jawa Report has a great roundup on this story.

Reports from “Perform Your Magic” blogger in Romania are that the journalists are free and under US and UK protection.

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Jim Hoft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016. In 2023, The Gateway Pundit received the Most Trusted Print Media Award at the American Liberty Awards.

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