Breaking News: FREE AT LAST! Centanni & Wiig Released! (VIDEOS)
All I can say is HALLELUJAH! Thank you God! Early word is that Fox News’ Steve Centanni and freelance cameraman, Olaf Wiig, have been freed from captivity, which occurred around 5:00 a.m EST. The Fox and Friends group were obviously overjoyed, as well. All I can say is just enjoy these pictures.
According to Fox News: (Sorry, this is worth more than a snippet - this is the whole article as it appears.)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two FOX News journalists were released by their kidnappers Sunday, nearly two weeks after they were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
The freeing of FOX correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, ends the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in Gaza.
The two journalists were dropped off at Gaza City’s Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Centanni embraced a Palestinian journalist briefly as he entered, then rushed upstairs as Wiig followed.
Centanni, in a phone interview shortly after his release, said “I’m fine. I’m just so happy to be free.”
He said he was so emotional because he was out and alive.
“There were times when I thought ‘I’m dead,’ and I’m not,” Centanni said. “I’m fine. I’m so very happy.”
He recounted how he and Wiig were pulled out of their car on August 14 and taken at gunpoint into another car. The kidnappers blindfolded them and handcuffed their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. They were then transferred to another car and driven to a building that they later learned was a garage.
***SCROLL FOR UPDATES***
Steve Overjoyed
Steve and the Palestinian PM
More…
“We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to life face down with our handcuffs on,” Centanni said.
“Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful.”
Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.
“We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint,” Centanni told FOX News. “Don’t get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn’t know what the hell was going on.”
Centanni’s brother, Ken, spoke to FOX News directly after the news was released.
“It’s just a tremendous amount of relief, overwhelming relief,” he said.
Later Sunday, the two journalists made a joint appearance with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. Haniyeh, Centanni and Wiig sat in a circle of chairs at the Beach Hotel. Wiig was also accompanied by his wife, Anita McNaught.
The day had begun with promises by senior Palestinian officials that the two would be released in coming hours.
At the same time, before the journalists’ release, a new video was released, showing Wiig and Centanni dressed in beige Arab-style robes. Wiig, of New Zealand, delivered an anti-Western speech, his face expressionless and his tone halting. The kidnappers claimed both men had converted to Islam.
The journalists had been seized in Gaza City on Aug. 14 by a previously unknown group calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades. However, senior Palestinian security officials said Sunday the name was a front for local militants, and that Palestinian authorities had known the identity of the kidnappers from the start.
Haniyeh also confirmed the kidnappers were from Gaza, squashing speculation that Al Qaeda had directed the abduction. “The kidnappers have no link to Al Qaeda or any other organization or faction,” Haniyeh said. “Al Qaeda as an organization does not exist in the Gaza Strip.”
It remained unclear whether the kidnappers had ties to Hamas or the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement. A third group, the Popular Resistance Committees, claimed Sunday it had helped mediate the release of the journalists.
In chaotic Gaza, gunmen often change their affiliation or form splinter groups. Their agendas are often driven by personal issues, including jobs and power for their clans, rather than by ideology.
In the past two years, Palestinian militants have seized more than two dozen foreigners, usually to settle personal scores, but released them unharmed within hours. The holding of the FOX journalists had been the longest.
Olaf and his wife, Anita
Steve and Olaf with PM
The AP has more:
The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority has insisted it had no clue about the identity of the kidnappers.
However, in recent days, Hamas government officials signaled that the release of the journalists was imminent and that they had won assurances from the kidnappers the hostages were being treated well.
On Sunday, before the journalists’ release, a new video was released, showing Wiig and Centanni dressed in beige Arab-style robes. Wiig, of New Zealand, delivered an anti-Western speech, his face expressionless and his tone halting. The kidnappers claimed both men had converted to Islam.
Several hours later, the two men were dropped off at Gaza City’s Beach Hotel, wearing Western-style clothing. Their captors had demanded the release of all Muslims imprisoned by the U.S. by midnight Saturday in exchange for freeing the journalists. It was not immediately clear whether the kidnappers received anything in return for freeing the journalists.
Thank you to everybody who prayed for their safe return. It warms my heart to see them so overjoyed, as am I. Word is they are going to give a press conference a little later this morning. Please come back for updated video.
Watch the early morning video here.
Also covering this early is Assorted Babble by Suzie, Jos Cafe, Blue Star Chronicles, bRight&Early, and I’m sure many more to be added. I’m sure Allah at HotAir will be updating soon, and Michelle now has it. Cathouse Chat is also following this, as well as RightWinged. Rick Moran over at Right Wing Nuthouse is on it, too, as is Thespis Journal and Captain’s Quarters. Wizbang also has coverage, as does Jay at Stop the ACLU.
***UPDATE***
Video of their press conference here.
***UPDATE***
Steve calls in to Shepard Smith early this morning. Video/audio here.
Other stories by BBC, New Zealand Herald, and Newshounds. Al Jazeera has photos of Steve and Olaf in the beige Islamic robes.
***UPDATE***
The Washington Post has this:
Parts of the latest six-minute tape, aired on al-Jazeera television, showed Centanni and Wiig seated cross-legged. Both read from written statements condemning the American policy in the Middle East. In one scene, both men were shown eating.
“It is Apache helicopters firing Hellfire missiles made in America that kill the residents in Gaza,” Wiig said on the tape.
Their statements were punctuated on the tape with screens of written verse from the Koran, and scenes from Abu Ghraib, the prison in Iraq that was the site of abuse of Muslim prisoners by American soldiers.
What a bunch of propagandist B.S. I know it tore both Steve and Olaf to the core to have to say that blasphemy. I’m just so happy they’re now free.
Johnny Dollar’s Place has video of Fox News’ CEO, Roger Ailes, speaking on the matter.
Ali Bubba is also covering this, and has this photo that is being shared around the web, and is so heart-wrenching.
Steve, that is exactly how I feel this morning.
***UPDATE***
Allah at HotAir has the disgusting video of Steve and Olaf’s “conversion” to Islam, courtesy of The Jawa Report.
I think I’m going to puke. The next person who says Allahu Akbar within earshot of me is going to get their ass beat severely.
***UPDATE***
Nothing “new,” new, but here’s more additional video footage from Steve and Olaf’s release as he calls in to Shep this morning. Video here.
This says it all. Sheer Relief!
Not Letting Go
Look at the absolute joy on their faces!
Now, let’s get crackin’ on the PA to help us locate their captors, and ensure they see swift justice. And there is the possibility that both the President and the PM, as earlier alleged by DEBKa, both knew who were holding Steve and Olaf. So, come on, guys.. let’s get to it!
***UPDATE***
Who knew what, and when did they know it? Check this out from the AP:
Interior Minister Said Siyam said he did not expect other foreign journalists reporting in Gaza to face similar abductions. “In principle, there is a promise that this will not be repeated,” he said, refusing to elaborate.
How does he know this???? More:
Haniyeh was evasive Sunday when asked whether he would try to arrest the kidnappers. Before Hamas ousted Fatah in March, it frequently had criticized the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority for cutting deals with kidnappers and letting them go without punishment.
It was not clear whether a deal had been struck with the kidnappers of the Fox journalists. The kidnappers initially demanded the release of all Muslims imprisoned by the U.S. by midnight Saturday (5 p.m. EDT) in exchange for the journalists.
The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority had insisted it had no clue about the identity of the kidnappers.
However, in recent days, Hamas government officials signaled that the release of the journalists was imminent and that they had won assurances from the kidnappers that the hostages were being treated well.
This story is far from over. I’m waiting for the truth to come out. Having said that, again I’m just relieved for now that Steve and Olaf are back in safety.
***UPDATE***
h/t Allah at Hotair
Are the kidnappings of Steve and Olaf related to the kidnapping of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit? According to a later report by Time:
Two Fox News journalists were freed on Sunday in Gaza after a complex deal was hammered out between the kidnappers and the Hamas-led government of Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh. The negotiations brought an end to the two-week-long hostage ordeal, but it may complicate efforts to free another captive — Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit — held by Palestinian militants.
Huh?
In its broadcasts, Fox News often portayed the Hamas militants as terrorists, but the kidnapping of the two journalists, sources tell TIME, had nothing to do with Fox’s perceived pro-Israel stance or a serious attempt, as the captors first demanded, of swapping the pair for Muslim prisoners in the U.S. Instead, the two newsmen were more likely the victims of a vicious feud between various Palestinian militias.
Excuse me? “Militants?” What the hell is wrong with calling them what they are, “terrorists?” I guess Time doesn’t consider them to be.
Well, well… turns out this might have been a pissing contest between two sects of the same organization:
Palestinian security sources close to the negotiators told TIME that the two Fox Newsmen — reporter Steve Centanni, 60, from Washington, D.C., and New Zealand cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36 — were kidnapped from Gaza to embarrass Haniyeh’s government. The militants, who earlier identified themselves as members of the previously unknown Holy Jihad Brigades, were enraged with fellow Hamas militants because they too had joined in the daring capture on June 25th of Corp. Shalit, in which Palestinian gunmen tunneled under a wall and attacked an Israeli army post. But according to these security sources, the militant groups fell out after Hamas’ military wing took control of Shalit and elbowed the other co-conspirators aside.
In revenge, these militants, who belong to a splinter group of the late Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, struck back by seizing the two journalists, these sources said.
Haniyeh was able to secure the journalists’ freedom, but at a high price: he has agreed to give these armed extremists a role in deciding the fate of the Israeli soldier, these sources said. The kidnappers are more extreme in their approach to Israel (Prime Minister Haniyeh is a moderate within Hamas), and they will undoubtedly raise the ante for the release of the 18-year-old corporal, who is said to be in good shape even though his captors have so far refused to offer any proof he is still alive.
You guys have a beef with each other? Keep it to your own damn selves, and leave American (or other) journalists alone!
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August 27th, 2006 at 8:17 am
FoxNews reporters freed!…
(h/t to Ms Underestimated) Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig have been freed! The freeing of FOX correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, ends the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in Gaza. The two journalists were dropp…
August 27th, 2006 at 8:46 am
BREAKING: RELEASED Centanni and Wiig HURRAY…
BREAKING: 5:30 a.m. est. Both Steve Centanni and Olaf Wigg, Fox News Journalists are RELEASED!!!!! They are now at the Beach Hotel in Gaza City. AWESOME, AWESOME NEWS…Thank GOD they are safe and free again.More information prior to their ……
August 27th, 2006 at 9:56 am
FOX REPORTERS FREED AFTER “CONVERTING” TO ISLAM…
The important thing, obviously, is that Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig have been freed from their captivity. And in an interesting twist that makes one think that their kidnappers knew all too well what Fox News is and what the attitude of the rest of t…
August 27th, 2006 at 10:18 am
They’re ALive, Safe, and Free…
Fox News is reporting that Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig are safe and free. Everyone is thankful for the release of these two inncocent journalists. So many bloggers kept the story from being forgtotten, and the outcome is a welcome relief. You can wa…..
August 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Is Centanni/Wiig Release a Hamas Photo Op?…
The whole thing was just a little too staged from start to finish. As we’ve learned in recent months, the Palestinians, Hamas and Hezbollah are no strangers to sexing up the news and creating photo op propaganda….
August 27th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Kidnapped Fox Employee’s Forced To Denounce The West In New Tape (UPDATE - Steve & Olaf Freed)…
Fox has breaking news on the two kidnapped Fox employees Steve Centenni and Olaf Wiig. Apparently there is a video of them being dressed in Islamic style clothing and reading verses from the Koran in Arabic.
Fox news is reporting they don't h…
August 27th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Kidnapped FOX News Journalists Released…
This is absolutely good news. I’m late reporting it, so I will just give you a little roundup.
Hot Air has lotsa links on the good news.
Ms. Underestimated has all kinds of videos.
Via FOX News:
The two journalists were dropped off at G…
August 27th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Eerie Image of Cross Hovers Over ‘Converts’ Centanni/Wiig…
Don’t know what to make of it. Just couldn’t help noticin’.
More on the release at:
Michelle Malkin
Hot Air
Right Truth
Pettifog Jots & Tittles
ChicagoRay
Alphabet City
Blue Star Chronicles
Assorted Babble by Suzie
Amy Proctor…
August 27th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Comment deleted - this was obviously not from Brit Hume. Once again, on posts that are about serious, personal stories, I will now allow degrading or disrespectful comments to be made. You don’t have 1/100th of the qualities that Brit does to qualify as a true man. Don’t post here again because you will just be wasting your time. This post is for honoring Steve and Olaf, and liberal nut-jobbery will not be tolerated.
Dismissed.
August 28th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Many thanks to Ms.U for such great coverage of this story. I’ve missed a lot of this the last couple of days and it’s nice to be able to drop in here and see the complete story of what has happened.
I share your joy in the release of these two fine gentlemen. Thankyou God for this happy ending to what might have been yet another horrible murder of innocent civilians by the monsters who award themselves the title of : Followers of the Religion of Peace.
August 28th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
FOX reporters freed, but humiliated via forced con…
Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were freed by their captors, who were most likely members of the Hamas and PLO.
If you ask me, the captors’ forcing the two to convert to Islam at gunpoint was very likely intentional - they likely knew that they worke….
August 28th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Comment has been deleted. As I’ve said many times, I reserve the right to moderate comments here, and NOBODY will be allowed to disparage or assert death wishes for Steve Centanni or any other journalist for that matter. Oh, and yes, I altered your email addres, as well.
Stay off my blog! You are “Wretched Refuse.”
August 29th, 2006 at 12:35 am
You are the hypocrite liar, Mr. Shamity… Yes, you’re comment has been deleted and moderated. Go play on DU.. that’s where you have more friends.
August 29th, 2006 at 12:41 am
“Sean,” he most certainly did post a death wish.
He said: “Work for Fox?…They should have been beheaded.”
That’s a death wish. You can post on any other post here, but not on this one… I will not allow you nor your buddy to sully the fate of Centanni or Wiig.
In 5 minutes, I’m going to also delete your comment, but I just wanted you to know your friend most certainly did post a death wish.
August 29th, 2006 at 2:35 am
I am glad they are free. I just hope they don’t start drinking their koolaid and tell us how great this “religion of peace” is.
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:50 pm
John drops by Ace’s place…
And he scores big on the funny! Video here and here provides any needed background….
September 19th, 2006 at 7:55 am
This comment was deleted out of respect for Steve and Olaf. The next time Ravin Black posts here, he/she will be banned. Apparently Ravin Black didn’t read the rules on comment #9 above.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
u didn’t get steve out of there…i don’t plan on posting…that is why u are a loser…u don’t get it!!!
can’t do anything can yah…cause u stole my identity…
there was nothing other than the good will and faith of the leaders of palastine which made steve come out of there alive…
next time…all of fox news are suspects until i rule them out…someone knew steve was planning on calling his family that night…someone with access to his calendar…and the rest is classified…something u r not entitled too…
my clearence is higher than cheney’s…so he found out.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Your clearance for what, Ravin? Your clearance as far as height goes to ride the rollercoasters at Six Flags? How did I steal your identity? I just replaced a profanity-laced tirade against me with something more appropriate. Also, generally the constant use of “u” in lieu of the word “you” indicates a level of education less than that of 7th graders who have just learned to text message. Grow up already. Isn’t it past your bedtime anyway?
September 20th, 2006 at 1:05 am
To Ravin,
Howard Dean, is that you?! Or is just a terrorist that’s ticked off that Steve and Olaf were set free?
Either way, I think you’re in DIRE need of some serious anger management therapy. Manic states can be controlled these days with anti-psychotic drugs and other techniques. You should think about setting up an appointment with a professional psychiatrist. Your delusional state may require electroshock, but hey it’s better to get better, right.
Your clearance is higher than Cheney’s? (The VP Cheney?) Uh-huh. Ok, and does this world you visit have a sky or is just a swirl of mixed up color? Wow, Ms. U, someone that high up in the chain has taken time out of their busy life to visit and post on your site — Your site is awesome!!! Then again, maybe “Cheney” is the name of one of his other personalities. Oh well.
Ravin, remember: The phrase “living the dream” is just a figure of speech. You’re not actually supposed to believe that what you dream is real. But they’ll get into that during your therapy.
Good luck and keep a positive attitude — the road to recovery may be a long one.
September 20th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
Dear Ravin(g):
your raving indeed. and not seeming capable of making much sense at all, actually. Take a few of your pills, maybe take a nap, and then calmly try to collect your thoughts. Your nasty diatribe and vulgar postings (multiple “f bomb” profanity post was quickly and correctly excised by MsU. You are a confused and angry individual it seems, with both reality orientation and anger management problems. Factually… to the best of my ACTUAL WORKING KNOWLEDGE as a now retired field grade military officer, I chuckle at your assertion that your “clearance” is higher than VP Cheney’s. To the best of my working knowledge, there is no higher clearance that exists than the VP, POTUS, or SecDef, excepting possible compartmentalization. Or where you referring to Mr. Waldo Cheney, the assistant produce department manager at Super WalMart? Get off the blog…you have nothing to contribute.
Ms. Chairman, I hereby move that Ravin be blocked from further annoying participation in the adult level discourse here on your Blog.
IS THERE A SECOND to the Motion?
LTCPMax, OVER.
September 22nd, 2006 at 12:01 am
You are a beautiful woman, and I bow to your omnipotent acumen. Thank you for showing me the ills of my ways. I will forever be indebted to you, Ms. U.
~bowing humbly as your servant~
RB
September 22nd, 2006 at 1:17 pm
ravin,
You are total flake. As I read your comments, I laughed, because only someone totally devoid of any human sanity would make them. You don’t even make sense. I wonder if even you know what you’re talking about.
Maybe you’re a stark, raving lunatic or a muslim terrorist, which is redundant. Or maybe you’re just some kid sitting at home trying to get attention because your parents neglect you.
Either way, your choice of words makes this no place for you. I join ltcpmax in calling for the banning of this looney whack-job’s candy *ss.
Ravin, get off the ‘puter and go seek psychiatric help. Your life will be much better if you learn how to live in the reality of a human society.
INFI-nitely DEL-ivered
September 22nd, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Those “flattering” comments by “Ravin” above were altered by me. I have blacklisted his IP because of the comments that he was trying to leave but got caught up in my spam filter. They were nothing but hate-filled, vile and odious lies. Lots of nasty name-calling and threats of a government probe of me. HAHAHAA… yeah, whatever.
Thanks to my supporters above. Max, I second your idea, and it has now been implemented.
Ms. U
September 22nd, 2006 at 5:28 pm
so much for what u know…ravin black isn’t who u think ravin black is…yeh, when ravin black is around the feds are never to far
September 22nd, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Yes, I know that, but I do know that you, “ahriel” are the same as Ravin Black:
Author : ahriel jakobz (IP: 70.229.91.48 , ppp-70-229-91-48.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
E-mail : ahrieljakobz@hotmail.com
Author : ravin black (IP: 70.229.91.48 , ppp-70-229-91-48.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
E-mail : mzravinblack@hotmail.com
You are both asshats, and your comments after this one will be deleted.
P.S. What is it that you have against using capital letters? And who in their right mind would think the federal government would have anything to do with anybody who sent derogatory emails around with a subject line of “u f**ing whore.” Oh, so intellectual! ……………….. NOT!
September 22nd, 2006 at 6:11 pm
u also a liar cause it says you wouldn’t publish email address…that’s ok…go ahead send something to them…
dick cheney knows who they both are…he isn’t telling u…thought he was your buddy…u know all about clearence levels…WHATEVER…
ta ta
September 22nd, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I’m a liar? When did I ever say I wouldn’t publish email addresses? You are the one who chose to send me private email, so it’s in my domain of free speech! You are such a lunatic, and I’m sure Dick Cheney doesn’t even CARE about you, much less know you.
You said “go ahead and send something to them.” To whom? You are not making rational comments nor having rational thoughts. You are a demented individual, and you seriously need help. I am not joking anymore; you’re just plain crazy.
To the rest of my readers: Please accept my apologies for allowing this person’s previous comments. Future comments, after THIS one of mine (#28) will be deleted. Don’t engage with this person, because he’s off his meds and not thinking like a rational person. His IP has been reported to sbcglobal.net’s abuse department.
September 22nd, 2006 at 6:38 pm
He was warned by me that his comments would be deleted, and here’s the proof!
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Deleted.
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Deleted.
Oh, Ahriel… go ahead and arrest me… if you have cause. You are a world-class asswipe and have NO jurisdictional authority whatsoever.
Ms. U