(CP) US citizen Travis Timmerman, described by his household as a “Christmas miracle”, has been present in Syria after being unexpectedly detained for seven months on a pilgrimage to deepen his Christian religion.
Timmerman, a local of Missouri, had been lacking since June earlier than reappearing in a suburb of Damascus. Timmerman was held within the notorious Sednaya jail, the place the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad arbitrarily detained tens of 1000’s. He was launched when rebels toppled the Assad regime this month.
He advised reporters that he crossed the mountains into Syria from Lebanon as a result of he was on a spiritual pilgrimage influenced by his intensive studying of the Bible and a need to deepen his understanding of Christianity.
Nevertheless, his entry into Syria from Lebanon on foot led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for a number of months. His detention solely just lately got here to mild after Syrian insurgent forces toppled Assad and the chaotic prisons that adopted.
A resident advised NPR's Ruth Sherlock, on the bottom in Damascus, that he discovered Timmerman strolling barefoot on the street.
In an interview with NBC Information, Timmerman's household expressed deep aid and pleasure at his launch, marking the top of a harrowing interval of uncertainty.
“I really feel nice! Reward the Lord!” Timmerman's sister Pixie Rogers mentioned. “I need him to know that my entire household and I like him a lot and that we’re excited to see him quickly.”
Timmerman's pastor, Don Kelderhouse of Preston Bible Baptist Church, advised the community that Timmerman was baptized greater than a yr in the past and was on hearth to share his religion in Christ.
“It's a miracle … The truth that we predict it wasn't abused is one other miracle,” he advised NBC Information.
Timmerman's mom, Stacey Collins Gardiner, advised NPR, “It's a Christmas miracle.”
Gardiner mentioned she obtained the message from reporters who known as her.
“At first I hoped it was him, however we didn't know if it was a hoax or what. After which my daughter noticed him on the information,” she mentioned. “He didn't, however they have been speaking about Travis… and I used to be so shocked. I used to be so pleased, I cried too – pleased tears.”
U.S. officers, talking on situation of anonymity, advised the media that Timmerman was flown to Jordan after his launch and is at present within the care of State Division officers, Reuters reported. It was first handed over to US troops on the Tanf garrison close to the tri-border area of Syria, Iraq and Jordan, earlier than being taken away by a US navy helicopter.
Throughout his captivity, Timmerman was remoted however not mistreated, however he heard sounds of torture from different prisoners close by.
The White Home mentioned it had no prior details about Timmerman's presence in Syria.
Timmerman was misidentified in some media studies as Austin Tice, one other lacking American whose destiny stays a thriller. The combination-up briefly precipitated confusion and anxiousness in the neighborhood and amongst journalists who adopted each instances carefully.
Earlier than his disappearance, Timmerman traveled via Japanese Europe with stops within the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Police models in Missouri and the police drive of the Hungarian capital have been monitoring his actions.
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