Missing New York Times Journalists Possibly Taken By Libyan Government Forces

Four New York Times journalists missing in Libya may have been captured by government forces, the paper’s executive editor has confirmed. Anthony Shadid, Stephen Farrell, Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario were last heard from by editors on Tuesday morning. Second hand reports suggest they were captured by government forces in the city of Ajdabiya.

In a post on The New York Times website, executive editor Bill Kelly said the Libyan government has been contacted. "We have talked with officials of the Libyan government in Tripoli, and they tell us they are attempting to ascertain the whereabouts of our journalists. We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed,” he said.

All four journalists have experience reporting in conflict zones. Hicks and Addario have reported extensively on the Middle East and Africa. Farrell was kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2009. He was rescued after 4 days by British commandos. Shadid has won the Pulitzer Prize twice for foreign reporting.

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