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The British journalist dramatically rescued from his Taliban captors today gave a vivid account of his kidnap and the moment he witnessed his interpreter shot down in a fierce gun battle.
Stephen Farrell told how he feared for his life as the UK special forces operation to free him, which left several dead, including a paratrooper, got underway.
But as he praised the bravery of his rescuers, questions have been raised over why the commando raid was approved, with hostage negotiators insisting they were just days away from securing the reporter's release through peaceful means.
The New York Times reporter spent four days in captivity after being abducted with translator, Sultan Munadi, 34, last Saturday while reporting on civilian deaths in a Nato air strike on fuel tankers that had been hijacked.
In a pre-dawn raid yesterday, British soldiers swooped in on the house in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, where the pair were being held.
Aside from Mr Farrell's interpreter and the British soldier, at least two civilians, believed to be a woman and a child, and scores of militants were killed in the bloody battle.
Several sources in Kabul have attacked Gordon Brown's decision to approve the rescue mission insisting the captors were seeking a ransom at worst and that there were no immediate threats to the lives of the Mr Farrell and Mr Munadi as suggested by security sources.
Describing the moments leading up to the bloodshed, Mr Farrell, 46, who was once kidnapped in Iraq while working for The Times newspaper in April 2004, said he and his kidnappers were woken up by the sound of helicopters overhead as the operation got underway.
He said: “The noise of the spotter drones overhead intensified, turned into a louder buzz, then multiple engine noises, rotors, and then gunshots and explosions. The half-dozen or so Taliban in the room rolled from their mattresses, snatched up their rocket-propelled grenades and ran from the room.”
Mr Farrell said he and Mr Munadi expected at that moment to be killed.
“The last Talib out of the room turned round, his Kalashnikov rising and falling with hesitation,” he said. ”I grabbed the thickest cushion I could find and the torso-sized sized camera bag onto which I had been holding for four days... I hid behind the cushion and bag, and Sultan hid behind me.”
He added: “Once the Taliban had gone, we ran to the door, Sultan ahead of me.
“It was dark. There were trees to our left and a high mud-brick wall to our right. We could see nothing more than a few feet in front of us.
“We had no idea who was where, and there were bullets flying through the air.
“I could hear Taliban voices shouting and shooting from trees to our left, I thought. I could also hear indistinct voices ahead. We continued 20 yards along the wall until it suddenly reached the corner.
“He (Sultan) carried straight on beyond the corner of the wall, bringing him out into the open. Wearing the same pale salwar kameez he had worn for four days he raised his hands and shouted, “Journaliste, journaliste,” even as he stepped out.
“There was a burst of gunfire and he went down immediately.”
Minutes later, after hearing British northern accents, Mr Farrell said he screamed, “British hostage, British hostage,”.
He said he heard a voice ordering him to drop his bag and lie on the ground.
“I complied, dropping the camera bag and all its contents. I lay on the ground, gave my name and newspaper and pointed to where Sultan was lying behind me, telling them I thought he had been shot,” said Mr Farrell. “The body was lying motionless in the ditch where I had seen him go down. They then dragged me away past the house across a rutted field and toward the helicopter landing zone. It was over.”
It was later that the body of the British soldier, a member of the 1st Bn The Parachute Regiment, attached to the Special Forces Support Group, was discovered.
Defence sources say there was no guarantee that a negotiated deal would have led to Mr Farrell's release and there were fears he could be moved.
But, a western source involved in the talks said: “There was no immediate urgency that they were going to be beheaded or handed over to another group. You cannot move them easily.”
Another western official said the operation was heavy-handed' adding “if they'd showed a bit of patience and respect they could have got both of them out without firing a bullet.”
The source said: “Instead, they ended up having one of their own killed, the Afghan killed and civilians killed.”
Reader views (16)
As always with the British. Dammed if you do, and, dammed if you don't.
- Tj, newport beach, usa, 10/09/2009 17:13
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Stephen Farrell will no doubt defend his actions by saying that he was doing his job and that he was prepared for any eventuality and never would've expected the special forces to risk their lives to save him.
But, the paras were just doing their job, combatting the Taliban and trying to protect civilians. Farrell should've known that, were he captured, there was a likelihood of a rescue operation that would put people's lives at risk.
But being a typically arrogant journalist intent on massaging his own ego, he no doubt ignored any warnings and disregarded the thought of putting other people's lives at risk and pushed on with his own selfish pursuit of a glorious exclusive.
He should be ashamed of himself. Yet he will no doubt go back to Afghanistan and Iraq again in the future, putting more lives at risk. Next time they should just leave him to the Taliban who'll give him the martydom he so obviously craves!
- Michael, London, 10/09/2009 14:46
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Why would Gordon Brown be involved in making operational military decisions? Sounds to me that he is grasping for approval, and, attempting to steal the glory that belongs to others, when the most heroic thing he probably did that day was get out of bed! Sad, pathetic, are words that come immediately to mind!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 10/09/2009 13:33
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I am glad that the operation was a success, a strong message in a language that the taliban understand is required where abductions occur. However I feel very strongly that the actions of this so called journalist has resulted in the death of our Para, there are enough of our boys being killed without Farrells reckless contribution.
If I were the parent of this soldier I would not rest nor keep silence until all journalists were banned from entering front line areas of operation, it just is not necessary and is clearly not worth risking the lives of our people on the ground in rescue missions.
- Martyn Blacker, Wakefield, 10/09/2009 12:56
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This journalist, along with many who go out to Afghanistan and Iraq purely for monetary gains in so called 'security'jobs put themselves in danger. When they get kidnapped by the Taliban they assume that our lads with get them out of the situation they find themselves in. Why should our troops put their lives in danger and innocent people die for idiots who chose to go into a war zone for their own gain. If they were members of special forces or spies that would be different, but they are not. I only have the deepest sympathy for those who've lost their lives, not for idiots like Farrell.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 10/09/2009 12:45
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"Because his story would only have one purpose-to exonerate the USA for bombing so many civilians."
It was Germany who called in the strike actually. Get your facts straight.
We should never barter with terrorists. It was the right call to go in and get this idiot. But his contempt for their heorism and huge sacrifice for his own idiocy is obvious in his silence. No wonder everyone hates the media. Well done to all involved. Bigger props given the media is now trying to blame you all. As usual.
- Alison, London, 10/09/2009 12:44
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This man with his various passports is not worth the life of one of our soldiers. There should be an investigation as to who authorised this operation and why.
The rescued man is an arrogant waste of space.
- James Town, Braintree UK, 10/09/2009 12:32
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Ummm...had it gone wrong and all hostages killed I wonder if the government would have said it was our decision...hmmm...I wonder!
- Chris K, London, 10/09/2009 12:23
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Vainglorious amateurs like Stephen Farrell should have their backsides unceremoniously kicked out of wartime danger zones. -He may put the pursuit of his career above his own safety, but should not be allowed to endanger the lives of others in his selfish quest for journalistic fame!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 10/09/2009 11:43
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"Hero" Brown looking for improved poll ratings as he plays fast and loose with the lives of our brave lads? QED.
- Ted, London, 10/09/2009 11:40
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Say what you will they may have released the reporter. But who's to say they wouldn't kidnap more and kill them. Or join in the fighting down Helmand province or build/plant a roadside bomb. They knew there was a Taliban cell they got rid of them in my opinion sends out the right message to the Taliban no where to run no where to hide.
- Thomas Hamilton, Omagh NI, 10/09/2009 11:26
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I hope that Stephen Farrell is proud of his actions, just to get a story for a commercial newspaper. I hope he does not sleep at night for the rest of his life, and that he constantly dreams about the frightful escape.
Mr Farrell just pause the rest of your life,and contemplate the sorrow and grief you have brought to the families of all the dead participants.
- Andrew Benson, York England, 10/09/2009 11:14
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If any of your readers have ever read the New York Times they would know that it is so pro Israel that it never tells the truth of what goes on in Afganistan. Iraq or Palestine so I wonder what this reporter was doing trying to enter a war zone? Because his story would only have one purpose-to exonerate the USA for bombing so many civilians.
- Des Egan, london. UK, 10/09/2009 11:09
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There is quite a difference between putting one's own life at risk and undertaking reckless actions that put other people at risk. Here it appears this man's stupidity and selfish pursuit of a story resulted in the deaths of 4 innocents (a mother and child, soldier and interpretor). He should be ashamed of himself and the media world should respond to such acts of reckless stupidity by refusing to deal with him in the future. There should be no question of lives ever being risked again to rescue this idiot.
- John, london uk, 10/09/2009 10:52
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My thoughts and condolences go out to the families of the innocents killed but the blame must be placed on the Taliban for kidnapping these men in the first place. At least 48 of them will not be able to partake in further mischief which is a good result. It seems that the Nato forces are damned if they act and damned if they dont act - we should be fully supporting such operations and for once Gordon Brown has made the right decision. The PC hand wringing leftie negotiators just fuel more kidnapping as being 'human' is seen as a sign of weakness. A clear message has been sent to any other would be kidnappers. Well done.
- Saxon, Cowes, 10/09/2009 10:40
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A brilliant operation and full credit to our lads for carrying it out. Even so, Stephen Farrell deserves to have his butt kicked good and hard. He chose to ignore earlier warnings about trying to talk to the Taliban, and it was his arrogance that ultimately led to deaths of a member of the Parachute Regiment, an interpreter and a number of civilians.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 10/09/2009 10:40
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