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Hostage Situations

I'm no stranger to the kind of dehumanized violence we saw happen in a Colorado movie theater earlier this summer.

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Aid worker killed in rescue attemptupdated: Sun Oct 10 2010 20:59:00

A British aid worker held hostage in Afghanistan was killed by captors during a rescue attempt. CNN's Ivan Watson reports.

Botched Manila hostage crisis probedupdated: Mon Sep 20 2010 07:38:00

A report into the Manila hostage crisis is expected to recommend charges against several people. Anna Coren reports.

Bus hostage drama ends in Philippinesupdated: Thu Sep 09 2010 20:10:00

A dramatic hostage situation comes to a close in Manila.

Philippines admits police may have shot some hostages in bus standoffupdated: Thu Sep 09 2010 20:10:00

Philippine authorities acknowledged for the first time Thursday that some of the tourists taken hostage in a bus standoff last month may have been shot by police in the bungled rescue operation.

Iran hostage anniversaryupdated: Wed Nov 04 2009 13:50:00

Webcast with former U.S. hostage John Limbert and former Carter aide, Gary Sick.

1979 hostage crisis still casts pall on U.S.-Iran relationsupdated: Wed Nov 04 2009 13:50:00

Thirty years ago Wednesday, Iranian student revolutionaries climbed over the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and seized dozens of Americans, whom they ultimately held hostage for 444 days.

British PM tells families hostages probably deadupdated: Wed Jul 29 2009 15:53:00

Two British hostages held in Iraq since 2007 are probably dead, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office said Wednesday.

UK hostages feared deadupdated: Wed Jul 29 2009 15:53:00

ITN's Chris Ship reports the families of two British hostages are being told their loved ones died in captivity in Iraq.

FARC rebels release hostagesupdated: Thu Feb 05 2009 11:14:00

Leftist rebels in Colombia release four hostages in an apparent goodwill gesture. CNN's Kaushal Patel reports.

Time.com: Iraq Calmer, but Kidnappings Spreadupdated: Mon Oct 13 2008 11:00:00

Five years ago, retired Air Force intelligence officer Kirk von Ackermann became the first of 39 Americans to be kidnapped in Iraq. He's still missing, his wife fearing she'll never see him again

Homecoming for U.S. hostagesupdated: Tue Jul 08 2008 03:56:00

Three former U.S. hostages readjust to their new lives after being rescued in Colombia. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

Rebels free hostagesupdated: Thu Feb 28 2008 14:57:00

Colombian rebels free four hostages held for more than six years.

Two hostages freedupdated: Fri Jan 11 2008 13:23:00

Two women held for more than five years by Colombian rebels have been released. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

Mission to free hostagesupdated: Sat Dec 29 2007 21:19:00

CNN's Karl Penhaul reports from Villavicencio, Colombia, where the mission to free three hostages is under way.

'Kidnap video demands UK exit Iraq'updated: Tue Dec 04 2007 15:00:00

A man who appeared on a video shown on an Arabic-language TV network Tuesday is believed to be one of five Britons kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this year, the Canadian-based security firm that employs the man confirmed to CNN.

Clinton meets with staffers after hostage ordealupdated: Fri Nov 30 2007 22:54:00

Police took into custody a man they say walked into Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire, and took several people hostage Friday.

Freed hostages return homeupdated: Sat Sep 01 2007 23:11:00

Freed hostages return home

Released South Korean hostages apologize for 'causing trouble'updated: Fri Aug 31 2007 08:55:00

South Koreans released from six weeks of captivity in Afghanistan spoke Friday about their ordeal, describing how they were kidnapped and apologizing to their government for causing trouble.

Taliban vows more abductionsupdated: Fri Aug 31 2007 02:06:00

Taliban militants released the last seven South Korean hostages on Thursday under a deal with the government in Seoul, ending a six-week drama that the insurgents claimed as a "great victory for our holy warriors."

Time.com: Korean Hostages Freed -- at a Cost updated: Wed Aug 29 2007 12:00:00

South Korea is rejoicing at the deal to release the 19 aid workers kidnapped by the Taliban. But what might Seoul have given up to get them back?

Korean hostage crisisupdated: Sun Aug 12 2007 03:02:00

Korean hostage crisis

Chechnya timelineupdated: Fri Apr 27 2007 07:43:00

At least 17 people were killed when a Russian-made Mi-8 military transport helicopter crashed in the volatile province of Chechnya Friday.

Gunman, hostage dead after high school siegeupdated: Wed Sep 27 2006 15:39:00

An armed standoff at a high school in Bailey, Colorado, ended after three hours Wednesday with a hostage and the gunman dead.

Hostages freed from Moscow prisonupdated: Mon Sep 04 2006 13:07:00

Russian police forced three inmate hostage-takers to release their 15 captives unharmed Monday after an hours-long standoff at a pretrial detention center in southeast Moscow, said Interfax news agency, quoting prison system director Yuri Kalinin.

Freed UK hostage thanks rescuers amid criticismupdated: Sat Mar 25 2006 05:01:00

Freed British hostage Norman Kember, who was held captive in Iraq for nearly four months, arrived in London on Saturday and thanked the soldiers who rescued him and two others.

First freed hostages heads homeupdated: Fri Mar 24 2006 03:42:00

The first of three Christian aid workers rescued from nearly four months of captivity in Iraq is returning to his home.

Threats in new German hostage tapeupdated: Tue Jan 31 2006 18:22:00

Iraqi insurgents have released a second videotape showing two kidnapped German engineers.

Arab media urged to help save U.S. hostageupdated: Tue Jan 31 2006 06:34:00

A day after a video of a U.S. journalist held hostage in Iraq aired on Al-Jazeera, a journalists' organization said it plans to work with the Arabic-language media to help gain Jill Carroll's release.

German hostages freed in Yemenupdated: Sat Dec 31 2005 08:24:00

Five German citizens taken hostage in Yemen earlier this week have been freed, the German foreign minister has said.

U.S.: 'No information' on hostage's fateupdated: Fri Dec 09 2005 05:49:00

A U.S. official said Friday that the United States still does not know if anything has happened to Ronald Schulz, an electrician taken hostage in Iraq.

Threat to kill Iraq hostages reportedupdated: Sat Dec 03 2005 04:23:00

Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera has aired video that appears to show the four peace activists abducted in Iraq last weekend.

Beslan probe 'disproves claims'updated: Fri Sep 30 2005 08:00:00

Allegations by witnesses of the Beslan hostage crisis, including claims the militants hid weapons in the school beforehand and that the principle helped them, have been disproved by a new investigation, a top prosecutor has said.

Sources: CIA finds Iranian president likely not hostage-takerupdated: Fri Aug 12 2005 09:29:00

A CIA report has determined with "relative certainty" that Iran's new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was not involved in the taking of U.S. hostages 26 years ago, three government officials told CNN on Friday.

Former hostages allege Iran's new president was captorupdated: Thu Jun 30 2005 10:22:00

The White House said Thursday it is taking seriously the allegations by former hostages that Iran's hardline president-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was one of their captors at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran a quarter century ago.

Iraq hostage freed after 7 monthsupdated: Wed Jun 22 2005 07:29:00

A Filipino citizen taken hostage in Iraq almost eight months ago has been released from captivity, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said.

Romanian journalists in Iraq videoupdated: Fri Apr 22 2005 12:47:00

Al Jazeera has aired video of three Romanian journalists and a translator held hostage in Iraq since last month and threatened to kill them if Romania fails to withdraw its troops from Iraq within four days of the video's release.

Relief in Rome at hostage videoupdated: Wed Feb 16 2005 07:36:00

Italians have expressed relief at seeing evidence that an Italian journalist being held hostage in Iraq is still alive.

Official: 8 Chinese hostages freedupdated: Sun Jan 23 2005 20:01:00

Eight Chinese hostages held by an Islamic resistance group in Iraq have been freed, an official from the Chinese Embassy has confirmed.

Source: U.S. tried twice to rescue hostagesupdated: Tue Oct 12 2004 03:41:00

The United States tried twice to rescue the two Americans and one British citizen held hostage in Iraq, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the attempts.

Turkish hostages freed, firm saysupdated: Sun Oct 10 2004 18:45:00

Iraqi militants have freed 10 employees of a Turkish construction company taken captive in Iraq in last month, the company's general manager says.

Family: Briton held hostage in Iraq killedupdated: Fri Oct 08 2004 07:40:00

The family of Ken Bigley, the British engineer who was taken hostage in Iraq three weeks ago, has confirmed that he has been killed.

No demands for Indonesian hostagesupdated: Fri Oct 01 2004 05:26:00

Hostage-takers in Iraq have not made any demands to Jakarta for the release of two Indonesian women seized in Iraq, officials say.

Report: 10 taken hostage in Iraqupdated: Thu Sep 30 2004 06:17:00

A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq says it has captured 10 hostages, including two Indonesian women, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Ransom row after Italians freedupdated: Wed Sep 29 2004 03:42:00

Controversy continues to surround reports that the Italian government paid a ransom to free two female aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks.

Six Egyptians kidnapped in Iraqupdated: Fri Sep 24 2004 01:59:00

Gunmen have seized six Egyptian telecommunication workers, Iraqi officials say, the third in a series of kidnappings of foreigners in the Iraqi capital this month.

Turk bid to protect Iraq truckersupdated: Thu Sep 23 2004 05:49:00

Turkey's government says it is considering an alternative route for its truck drivers bringing goods into neighboring Iraq in an effort to stem kidnappings.

Beslan students back at schoolupdated: Wed Sep 15 2004 01:47:00

Teachers and students have returned to school in Beslan, two weeks after a deadly terrorist siege left more than 300 adults and children dead.

$10m reward for Chechen rebelsupdated: Wed Sep 08 2004 11:43:00

Russia has offered $10 million for information that helps "neutralize" two Chechen rebel leaders, and a military official said Moscow was prepared to strike at terrorists around the world.

New details emerge on siege rebelsupdated: Wed Sep 08 2004 01:11:00

A group of 32 terrorists hid in a nearby forest before storming the school in southern Russia last week, according to new details released by Russia's prosecutor-general.

Footage shows school siege dramaupdated: Tue Sep 07 2004 15:27:00

Chilling video from inside the Russian school seized by terrorists last week shows a first-hand glimpse of the horror inside, with hundreds of people huddled in the gymnasium as masked gunmen string up explosives.

Russians rally against terrorismupdated: Tue Sep 07 2004 00:27:00

Tens of thousands of stunned, sad and angry Russians Tuesday staged a somber demonstration in the nation's capital, protesting and mourning the massacre of at least 335 hostages at a school in the country's restive Caucasus region.

Russia school siege toll tops 350updated: Sat Sep 04 2004 00:29:00

The death toll in the Russian hostage crisis has climbed beyond 350 as President Vladimir Putin denounced the massacre as "an attack on our country."

Report: More than 200 dead after troops storm schoolupdated: Fri Sep 03 2004 03:34:00

The operation to end the school hostage crisis in Russia is over, an emergency official said late Friday, but more than 200 people have died.

Russia school siege: '26 freed'updated: Thu Sep 02 2004 10:13:00

At least 26 women and children have been freed by militants holding hundreds more people hostage at a school in southern Russia, Interfax news agency Interfax reports.

Siege negotiations 'break down'updated: Thu Sep 02 2004 06:12:00

A reporter on the scene of the school siege in southern Russia has told CNN that negotiations have broken down, and militants holding hundreds of children hostage have turned off their mobile phones.

'Hundreds more' in Russian siegeupdated: Thu Sep 02 2004 01:02:00

Russian authorities now believe there may be hundreds more children, parents and teachers being held hostage at a school in southern Russia than originally thought, CNN Correspondent Ryan Chilcote says.

Standoff in Russia school siegeupdated: Wed Sep 01 2004 03:19:00

A tense standoff between Russian authorities and attackers who seized at least 100 hostages -- possibly as many as 400 -- at a school in southern Russia continued Thursday with little progress reported.

Employer: 7 Iraq hostages releasedupdated: Wed Sep 01 2004 01:59:00

Seven truck drivers taken hostage in Iraq over a month ago have been released, according to their employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport company.

French bid to free abducted journalistsupdated: Sun Aug 29 2004 10:47:00

French President Jacques Chirac dispatched his foreign minister to the Middle East on Sunday to try to secure the release of two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq.

Fighting in northern Iraq leaves 12 deadupdated: Wed Aug 04 2004 03:48:00

Clashes between police and insurgents in the northern city of Mosul left 12 Iraqis dead and 26 wounded, hospital and police sources said Wednesday.

Too close to Iraq kidnappers for comfortupdated: Tue Aug 03 2004 06:48:00

Recently, while investigating a story about hostages kidnapped in Iraq, I got closer to the hostage-takers than I would have liked.

Iraq hostage video releasedupdated: Thu Jul 22 2004 09:30:00

The government of Kenya on Thursday released the names of three citizens kidnapped in Iraq, along with four other men, by a group that has threatened to behead them if their demands are not met.

Philippines begins Iraq pulloutupdated: Fri Jul 16 2004 00:10:00

The Philippines is recalling the chief of its humanitarian force and 10 other personnel in Iraq as part of efforts to comply with the demands of kidnappers.

Egyptian hostage in Iraq faces deadlineupdated: Thu Jul 15 2004 04:06:00

The abductors of an Egyptian hostage in Iraq have given his Saudi employer 48 hours to prove the company has left Iraq, the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera reported Thursday.

Bulgaria hostages 'alive in Iraq'updated: Wed Jul 14 2004 03:19:00

Two Bulgarian hostages may still be alive, according to an Iraqi police chief, despite reports that one of them had been executed by Iraqi militants.

Bulgarian hostage killed in Iraqupdated: Tue Jul 13 2004 01:06:00

A Bulgarian government spokesman confirmed reports Wednesday that one of two Bulgarians held hostage in Iraq had been killed.

Bulgaria: Hostages 'still alive'updated: Sun Jul 11 2004 09:50:00

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry says it has information indicating two of its citizens held hostage in Iraq are alive, although a reported deadline set by the kidnappers had expired.

Bodies of 1 Lebanese, 2 Iraqi hostages found updated: Sat Jun 12 2004 07:27:00

A Lebanese national and two Iraqi co-workers who had been taken hostage have been found shot dead, a Lebanese diplomat in Baghdad said Saturday.

Turkish hostage video shownupdated: Thu Jun 10 2004 11:09:00

For the second day this week, news footage Thursday showed members of an obscure militant group holding Turkish workers and issuing anti-coalition messages.

Freed Italian hostages arrive homeupdated: Wed Jun 09 2004 05:31:00

Three Italians held hostage in Iraq for nearly two months have arrived home to an emotional welcome.

Italian hostages freed in Iraqupdated: Tue Jun 08 2004 08:19:00

Three Italians held hostage in Iraq for nearly two months and a Polish citizen have been freed as a result of a military operation, according to the U.S.-led coalition.

Saudi: Most hostages safe and wellupdated: Sun May 30 2004 09:28:00

More than 24 hours after attackers stormed a compound housing oil workers in Saudi Arabia, killing at least 11 people, a hostage standoff between police and the gunmen has ended, according to Saudi authorities.

Saudis blame al Qaeda for attackupdated: Sun May 30 2004 02:23:00

Saudi Arabian government officials Sunday blamed al Qaeda terrorists for a series of weekend attacks in the oil city of Khobar that left at least 22 people dead -- 19 of them from other countries.

Saudis storm besieged compoundupdated: Sat May 29 2004 04:09:00

Rescue helicopters carrying Saudi security forces dropped them off on the roof of a building Sunday at a residential complex in Khobar where hostages -- perhaps about 50 -- have been held by gunmen since Saturday.

Hostage rally: Powell warns Italyupdated: Fri Apr 30 2004 07:43:00

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has warned Italians not to send the wrong signal to kidnappers holding three of their countrymen in Iraq.

Italians rally for Iraq hostagesupdated: Thu Apr 29 2004 05:16:00

The families of three Italians held hostage in Iraq have led a march in Rome after the abductors threatened to kill the captives unless Italians protested against the war.

Italy vows to defy Iraq kidnappersupdated: Tue Apr 27 2004 06:01:00

Italian politicians have condemned a threat by Iraqi militants to kill three hostages unless Italians protest over the presence of their country's troops in Iraq.

Latest on Iraq hostagesupdated: Tue Apr 20 2004 21:05:00

(CNN) -- Here is the latest information CNN has on hostages or those missing in Iraq:

Pope appeals for hostages' releaseupdated: Sun Apr 18 2004 06:43:00

Pope John Paul II has called on Iraqi kidnappers to show "humanity" and free their hostages.

Former hostage: 'Thank God for shock'updated: Sat Apr 17 2004 10:56:00

Terry Anderson, a former Mideast correspondent for The Associated Press, was kidnapped in Lebanon in 1985 by the Islamic militant group Hezbollah. He was held captive for nearly seven years.

Latest on Iraq hostagesupdated: Sat Apr 17 2004 10:51:00

Here is the latest information CNN has on hostages or those missing in Iraq:

Czech journalists tell of captivity in Iraqupdated: Fri Apr 16 2004 18:12:00

Three Czech journalists held hostage in Iraq say they were moved from place to place by their abductors and handed off to different groups during their captivity.

Czech, Canadian hostages releasedupdated: Fri Apr 16 2004 06:36:00

Three Czech journalists held hostage in Iraq say they were moved from place to place by their abductors and handed off to different groups during their captivity.

Japanese hostages heading homeupdated: Thu Apr 15 2004 21:09:00

Three Japanese civilians taken hostage in Iraq and threatened on video to be burned alive may be be home as soon as Saturday afternoon.

Three Japanese hostages releasedupdated: Thu Apr 15 2004 01:14:00

Three Japanese civilians taken hostage and threatened on video to be burned alive unless Japan pulled out of Iraq have been released.

Italy confirms hostage executedupdated: Wed Apr 14 2004 02:55:00

The Italian foreign minister has confirmed that one of a group of four Italian hostages in Iraq has been executed.

Iraq hostage crisis intensifiesupdated: Mon Apr 12 2004 22:02:00

A spate of civilian hostage taking in Iraq is continuing despite an anti-kidnapping decree issued by Muslim clerics.

U.S. deaths reach grim milestoneupdated: Mon Apr 12 2004 20:11:00

U.S. officials are insisting the situation in Iraq is improving despite a surge in violence that has made April the deadliest month of combat for the U.S. military since last year's invasion.

Gunfire downs U.S. helicopter in Iraqupdated: Sun Apr 11 2004 03:15:00

A U.S. Army Apache helicopter was brought down by unidentified ground fire west of Baghdad on Sunday, military sources said, despite a cease-fire that was in effect in the region.

Militants holding apparent U.S. hostage set deadlineupdated: Sat Apr 10 2004 22:28:00

The armed militants who appear to have taken an American civilian hostage in Iraq said Saturday that their captive may face harsh treatment if U.S. forces don't leave Fallujah within 12 hours.

Deadline set for U.S. hostage passesupdated: Sat Apr 10 2004 07:53:00

A 10 p.m. ET deadline set by the armed militants in Iraq, who have taken hostage a man who appears to be American, has passed with no word on whether he has been released.

Japan works on hostage releaseupdated: Sat Apr 10 2004 01:30:00

As protesters demand the recall of Japanese troops from Iraq, Japan has set up an emergency headquarters in Jordan to work on the release of three of its citizens taken hostage in Iraq.

Death threat to Iraq hostagesupdated: Thu Apr 08 2004 08:19:00

Three Japanese citizens are among a number of civilians taken hostage in Iraq, where fighting between insurgents and coalition troops has escalated in recent days.

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