Japan’s government said freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda held hostage in Syria for the past three years has been freed and is reportedly staying at an immigration facility in the Turkish city of Antakya.
Mr Yasuda went missing in June 2015 after travelling from Turkey to Syria to report on the country’s civil war and was reportedly held hostage by a group linked to al-Qeada.
The Japan Times reported that the group had demanded a $10m ransom for Mr Yasuda which the Government refused to pay.