NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his crew believed they would not make it out of Syria alive during their five days of captivity, Engel said Thursday.
"There was no doubt that these were violent people and that they could have executed us at any time," Engel told NBC News' Savannah Guthrie in an interview Thursday night on "Rock Center."
Engel, 39, and his team disappeared shortly after crossing into northwest Syria from Turkey on Dec. 13. He and his team had already been captured as his last taped report from Aleppo was appearing on "NBC Nightly News" that evening.
The network had not been able to make contact with them until learning that they had been freed Monday. The final member of the team, Ian Rivers, who provides technical support for NBC News, crossed safely from Syria into Turkey early Wednesday.
The network said there was no claim of responsibility, no contact with the captors and no request for ransom during the time the crew was missing.
After entering Syria, Engel and his team were abducted and tossed into the back of a truck before being transported to an unknown location believed to be near the small town of Ma'arrat Misrin. During their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound but otherwise were not physically harmed, the network said.
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But their captors submitted them to what Engel called "psychological torture," leading them to believe that they were doomed. From time to time, "they were making us choose which one of us would be executed," he said.
Asked whether they ever thought they were going to die, all five men raised their hands. "Every day," Engel said.
Early Monday evening local time, the prisoners were being moved to a new location in a vehicle when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation, and a firefight ensued. Two of the captors were killed, while an unknown number of others escaped, the network said.
Ghazi Balkiz, an NBC News producer, said that was the most nerve-racking time of all.
"I don't want to suffer to find out that this was not really happening," he said. "That would have been devastating."
Engel and his team were unharmed. Engel and several other members of the team remained in Syria until Tuesday morning when they made their way to the border and re-entered Turkey, the network said.
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I truly feel that Mr. Engel and his crew are the most brave people to endanger themselves to bring the true perspective. I also feel that some of the comments are uncalled for. I dont understand meaness and spite. Their mission was to keep us, Americans informed of the actions of a very different people and to try and to help us understand all of the violence. Many of the comments were so negative against the President and the news team. They risk their lives to get information and understanding to the public. The negative people should sit back, listen and learn. I am glad you are home safely. Peserver and prosper. You are truly valiant.
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Please...........
To jms1996
I was wondering if someone would come up with that thought. I'm glad they're back; I wish our troops received the same kind of media coverage and support. It would also be nice if the families of our troops received some kind of recognition as well (referring to the comment made re: Mrs. Engel). I'd like to see our troops get the same kind of homecoming and respect for their service as the Engel team did. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Sure the media will be quiet to save one of their own and it might cost them more ransom money.
Makes sense doesn't it.
Good luck with getting the truth about which group captured Engel's azz.
Or did you imagine for one single moment that NBC would give you the facts? Bwahahaha.
Google "infighting Syrian rebels" yourself.
Oh, and now that Engel is again on the loose we will be subjected again to his dual-loyalist, zionist propaganda. (But for some of you this is music to your ears!)
Engel isn ass, he said 3 months ago the rebels would win, report don't predict
They should be grateful to Ahrar-Alsham brigade to release them from regime loyalty gangs .
You can blame that one on George Bush too. We were safer under Republicans.
Because 9/11? Really?
Richard Engle walked into Syria deliberately to get a story and he came out of Syria with a story. He sesationalized his story by imparting some danger into it. He will do it again, if he thinks he can get another story out of it. This is like a little child stealing a candy bar and not getting caught, he does it again because he enjoyed not getting caught. As the world turns.
Lebanon,1983 under Ronald Regan 241 unarmed Marines slaughtered but never mentioned by the POS right wingnut cases on a diplomatic mission.
Semper fi
Consumers of unbiased reportage, all. I wish I could shed some of my own biases concerning folks who work for the MS media. Lots of you folks are saying that this Engel fellow was one of the few really even handed reporters at NBC (National Bolshevic Corporation). Since I don't watch this stuff much any more, I really can't comment on the supposed unbiased nature of this guy's work. But I CAN say a good deal about the incredible lefty bias that had me stop watching in the first place. Same with NPR (National Proletarian Radio). And the few times more recently that I've checked things out on TV, and the press, little has changed; if anything, with the last election, fiscal cliff, and the tragedy in Newtown, it seems to have gotten even worse. The MS media could become less biased, stranger things have happened. I'll watch again if that happens. Hope I'm not unfairly judging this guy, but the burned child avoids the fire. Aa.
Not a heck of a lot that can be said. Welcome home guys. Richard I do enjoy watching your reporting of the news from the front lines. I hope you will be able to continue your reports. I would fully understand why you might want to decline going back. Your still one of the best war correspondents I have had the pleasure of watching. God bless all of you and your families this holiday season.
OMG! How @!$%#ing sad!
Who really cares about the middle east anyway? They have been fighting since the beginning of time. I say lets give them nuclear weapons so they can just get over with!
if you can't take the heat....stay out of Syria's kitchen
What about more information about who the captos actually are or are believed to be?
The first day when Engel and team had crossed into Turkey, engel stated that the captors were Assad loyalists who were trying to trade Engel and team for six Assad loyalists that were captured by the rebels. It was to be a trade off of Engel and tema for the Assad loyalists. Ia am not sure why this report did not state that, but these were words from Engel himself that first day.
Engel's risky behavior got people killed, and risked the lives of others.
Agree. Its time for him to settle down than jerk around risking lives for worthless stunts.
Its like banging your head against the wall so it feels good when you stop!!
The people who were killed were the kidnappers. Pretty sure it was their "risky behavior" that got them killed.
What a world we live in. Hate Hate Hate. I'm so glad i never had children. What they are going to have to deal with. I'm not a hippie but live and let live. I'm not a christian or a muslim nor do i lean towards any religious beliefs because i would have to hate someone.
Man there are some arrogant, absent minded people in this country, you dont want to know what I really wanted to say about these people , how they dont have a care in there body about Engel and his team. If the shoe was on the other foot they would'nt be talking crap. Im glad Engel and his team are alright and nobody got hurt. And to you absent minded people, get a life.
When you play with fire,don't be surprised if you get burned.
I agree with you, zapper. The blame game is used by some to put others on the defensive in order to make themselves look good, but when the finger of blame is pointed at them, they can always come up with an excuse. I respect Richard Engel, but I've been thinking for a long time that he is really pushing his luck. These people who are constantly fighting are not worth giving up your life for, in my opinion.
Engel and team know the risks of being in those countries. They accept them as part of their job, just as I accept that I may be stuck with a contaminated needle or splashed with contaminated body fluid, or have to wrestle a crazed drunk guy. We all take risks in outer lives and professions. Many do not want to take those risks and choose differently. But thank god for all the people in this world that are willing to take risks to help others, in Engels case he helps us by keeping us informed on the front lines.
But I am sure there is a pretty price on his head if he returns.
Sad that a conservative cannot feel comfortable making posts without being added to "the watch list". Where is the America that I grew up with? Because Micheal Moore and all the other libtards out there are saying hateful things about "The greatest generation". Hoping that they will all be dying to form some kind of liberal utopia. Without the knowledge of the past tragedies will repeat themselves! Pay attention to the history of this country and learn about the past and bye "God" do not let it repeat history repeat itself. Sad Sad state I say!!
What "watch list"?
Bottom line is this:Want to live...DON'T get caught with your pants down in ANY Mid-East country.....period! They do not want us there or anywhere on their precious land.....wake up! Let these barbarians figure it out for themselves.....they seem to know it all......if they want to live in the 8th century....fine.
I cannot believe the number of idiots posting on this blog believing the incident was fake, or Engel was responsible for the WMD reporting in the Bush years. Where do these kooks come from? Talk about the dumbing of America. The internet just proves that we are in dire straites with ding-dong like these posters.
Same folks who think Hillary faked a concussion to avoid testimony on Benghazi. The nutjob-o-sphere keeps getting sillier, doesn't it?
Richard Engel has become a symbol of our troubled times in a good way.
He has been covered Iraq from the beginning until the end. Afghanistan, Libya, Syria , and every dangerous hotspot in the world he shows up and is known by most of the people in these countries as a fair accurate reporter. He has slipped in and out of every country to reveal what is really happening. many times he doesn't know which side is controlling where he enters.
To the person who mentioned money from books is his motive you could not be more wrong. After seeing him showing up everywhere for the first few years I would tell my friends " They have to get him back here. He has been gone too long doing this ." Every now and then he comes back for a brief time and then off to the next story. He is definately an adrenaline junkie and that is what makes him him. He is one of the bravest men alive and possible the bravest journalist alive now. He is in that group of famous war correspondants. I hope he continues on until he can be at peace not being in the thick of things. That may be years away though. Godspeed Richard and stay safe. I think this applies to him "You never feel more alive than when you are in danger. All senses intensify and the adrenaline rush keeps you going ".