ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An eyewitnesses described to Rudaw the moment an American journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, saying Shelly Kittleson began screaming as several unidentified individuals forced her into a vehicle.
"The girl crossed from the other side and stopped near that car. I think she wanted to take a bus. Three people came; one of them grabbed her from behind. Even in CCTV footage, it’s clearly visible how he holds her from behind and pushes her into the car. She kept screaming, then the second person came closer and she was trapped between them. The driver started the car, and we don’t know where they took her," said Mohammed Abdullah, an eyewitness.
Shelly’s kidnapping quickly triggered international reactions. The US State Department announced it is working with the FBI to locate and rescue her. In Baghdad, security forces are on high alert, and the area has been sealed off.
Another resident of Baghdad, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he was asleep when the incident took place.
"When I came down, I saw the street was very crowded. I asked what happened, and they said an American journalist had been kidnapped here," he said.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry has collected all CCTV footage from the street and nearby shops. According to security sources, one of the three kidnappers has been arrested and is under investigation, while the search for the others continues.
The kidnapping of the journalist comes amid escalating regional tensions following a US and Israeli military campaign against Iran that began late last month.
"The girl crossed from the other side and stopped near that car. I think she wanted to take a bus. Three people came; one of them grabbed her from behind. Even in CCTV footage, it’s clearly visible how he holds her from behind and pushes her into the car. She kept screaming, then the second person came closer and she was trapped between them. The driver started the car, and we don’t know where they took her," said Mohammed Abdullah, an eyewitness.
Shelly’s kidnapping quickly triggered international reactions. The US State Department announced it is working with the FBI to locate and rescue her. In Baghdad, security forces are on high alert, and the area has been sealed off.
Another resident of Baghdad, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he was asleep when the incident took place.
"When I came down, I saw the street was very crowded. I asked what happened, and they said an American journalist had been kidnapped here," he said.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry has collected all CCTV footage from the street and nearby shops. According to security sources, one of the three kidnappers has been arrested and is under investigation, while the search for the others continues.
The kidnapping of the journalist comes amid escalating regional tensions following a US and Israeli military campaign against Iran that began late last month.
Ziyad Ismail contributed to this article from Baghdad.
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