This is the tear-jerking moment a kidnapped journalist is reunited with his family after a dramatic rescue operation by Mexican forces.
Prosecutors in the central Mexican state of Morelos said that journalist Adrian Fernandez Guerra had been kidnapped by an armed group while dining in a restaurant in the city of Cuernavaca.
In a dramatic swoop involving the Federal Police, National Guard and criminal investigators, the owner of the news website ‘Perfil’ (‘Profile’) was rescued while 10 of his alleged kidnappers were arrested.
Video Credit: CEN/@Fiscalia_Mor
During the moment of his abduction, a restaurant worker was reportedly killed while trying to save Fernandez Guerra.
At the time, his wife Yessenia Balvas Fajardo pleaded with the authorities to find her kidnapped husband alive.
The authorities used a helicopter to identify the suspected location where the victim was being held.
According to local media, a shootout took place before officers were able to disarm and detain 10 suspects.
The detainees have been identified as Enedel, 25, Ignacio Rodriguez, 37, Angel de Jesus, 25, Israel, 23, Cristian Miguel, 40, Alfredo, 45, Edwin Uriel, 22, Herminio, 23, Josue, 30, and Jesus, 37.
Reports said that eight AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles and six handguns were seized as well as a Mazda CX-7 which is believed to be the vehicle used in the kidnapping.
Two other cars and a motorbike were also confiscated by the police as well.
According to the human rights organisation Articulo 19, 47 journalists were killed during the administration of former president Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-2018). During the current administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, 11 journalists have been killed for their work.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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