1 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,159 I found this camera in Mosul. 2 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,000 EXPLOSION 3 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,160 John had the exact same camera. 4 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,320 This is the place where John Cantlie was last seen. 5 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,480 He is still missing. 6 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,640 John Cantlie's story... 7 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,520 ..is the story of a very complicated... 8 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,560 ..intelligent and driven man. 9 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,839 And a very controversial figure. 10 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,759 I didn't like John Cantlie. 11 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,359 That didn't mean that I didn't grow to like what I knew of him 12 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:03,640 as I investigated him. 13 00:01:03,641 --> 00:01:07,759 There's a mythology that's been built around John Cantlie. 14 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,879 It's very Heart Of Darkness. 15 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,640 He has gone down the river and no-one knows what happened to him. 16 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,080 This is the golden era of Jihad. 17 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,919 NEWS REPORT: The Islamic State is now at war with the West. 18 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,279 One thing we can all agree on is that a group like ISIL 19 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,640 {\an8}has no place in the 21st century. 20 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,080 John went into the hornets' nest. 21 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,239 He wanted a proper story. 22 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,079 EXPLOSION 23 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,760 He went looking for British jihadis in dangerous environments. 24 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,560 Was he on the verge of an amazing story? 25 00:01:55,561 --> 00:01:59,399 - NEWS REPORT: - Journalists have become targets. 26 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,759 - NEWS REPORT: - Scores of journalists are believed to have been kidnapped. 27 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,520 NEWS REPORT: John Cantlie is being held by extremists from Islamic State. 28 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,720 We just were desperate for information. 29 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,359 It was a mission to find missing persons. 30 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,999 NEWS REPORT: Another barbaric beheading, 31 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,160 another unwatchable video. 32 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,720 It became apparent that he had not been beheaded. 33 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,759 Hello, my name is John Cantlie, 34 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,479 and the media hasn't had a story as big as this 35 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,520 for a very long time, indeed. 36 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,520 Why not kill him like the rest? 37 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,480 People began to take the view that he was a turned Islamic State asset. 38 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,240 What really did happen to John Cantlie? 39 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,079 In 2011, a wave of protests swept across North Africa 40 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,120 and the Middle East... 41 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,040 ..first Tunisia, then Egypt... 42 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,679 ..with people demonstrating against their leaders. 43 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,679 Everyone is in the street. 44 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,199 They are cheering that Mubarak's left. 45 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,080 Thank God that he did. 46 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,479 One by one, dictators are ousted. 47 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,879 I feel that I'm living in a Hollywood movie, 48 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,839 not even an Egyptian movie. 49 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:38,680 I feel it's a movie. 50 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,079 In Libya, after anti-government protests, 51 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,840 Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has started to fire on his own people. 52 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:55,239 We pray very hard for his fall. 53 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,400 This guy has to come out and we ask the world to help us arm. 54 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,479 On the other side of the country, 55 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,239 a coalition of opposition groups have formed, 56 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,440 determined to topple Gaddafi. 57 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,230 And journalists from the major news organisations flock to the country... 58 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,559 ..to uncover the reality on the ground. 59 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,400 GUN FIRE 60 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,199 Listen to these crowds. What are they shouting? 61 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,879 "Colonel Gaddafi is a coward", they say. 62 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,320 "Come and attack us here in the square." 63 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,400 No, no-one is against us. Against me for what? 64 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:42,959 They love me, all my people are with me. They love me all. 65 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:44,799 But if they do love you... 66 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,319 They will die to protect me, my people. 67 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,319 You don't understand. 68 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,000 And the world doesn't understand the system here. 69 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,119 I ended up in Libya. 70 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,959 I'd covered several conflicts before. 71 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:01,999 I've worked a lot in Afghanistan. 72 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,639 Probably over the years, 73 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,279 I've spent more time in Afghanistan than anywhere. 74 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:08,119 I covered the war a lot in Iraq. 75 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,760 Yeah, long road. 76 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,439 When the Arab Spring began, I was in Africa. 77 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,479 Very quickly I got to Kenya, got to Egypt, 78 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,160 and then drove through the desert and got into Eastern Libya. 79 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,559 At the same time, arriving is another group, 80 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,840 independent from the news networks. 81 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,839 The freelance journalists. 82 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,759 Banging tunes on Libyan FM! 83 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,680 This is 103.5. 84 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,879 Among them is John Cantlie. 85 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,760 A lot of very young guys with a lot of guns. 86 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:44,999 John films his arrival, 87 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,720 recording a video in his self-shot irreverent style. 88 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,240 He is a motorbike reporter turned conflict photojournalist. 89 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,719 John travels out to the rebel front line, 90 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,320 the most dangerous place to be. 91 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,680 But where he can witness the war close up... 92 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,480 ..and embed with rebels fighting Gaddafi. 93 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,799 Not many journalists are travelling this close to the front line. 94 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,519 EXPLOSION 95 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,080 Shit! 96 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,399 I spent a lot of time with John in Somalia. 97 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,719 I remember thinking, oh, he's like a kid. 98 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,800 Like a kid in a playground playing commando. 99 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,799 I think he really loved the idea of being a war photographer. 100 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,319 There is a nobility about the pursuit of the story, right? 101 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,559 The truth, speaking truth to power. 102 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,760 But it's a dangerous job. 103 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,359 There was a vibrancy about him. 104 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,719 He had the most ridiculous flak jacket I've ever seen in my life. 105 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,239 He had this flak jacket that looked like it was in couture in Paris. 106 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,999 It was this tiny little flak jacket that didn't fit him. 107 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,920 But I later found out that that's because he couldn't afford a flak jacket. 108 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,919 During his time reporting from the front line, 109 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,639 John records a series of self-shot videos. 110 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:26,080 These films give an insight into his journalistic style. 111 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:28,520 {\an8}EXPLOSIONS 112 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:46,120 John also started working closely with American reporter James Foley. 113 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,239 The two had become a tight team. 114 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,960 James Foley was a really good guy. 115 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,239 Yeah, I think so, yeah! 116 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,560 Jim is one of these people that you meet... 117 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,359 ..and you immediately fall in love with, you know? 118 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,199 He was very kind, very fun. 119 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,200 It was a good time being around him. 120 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,919 The whole building is a sniper heaven, huh? 121 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,039 John was another story. 122 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,959 He was noisy. 123 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,679 - In what way, what do you mean? - Ah, he talked too much. 124 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,879 He took too much space. 125 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,879 He was actually fun, I believe. 126 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,399 Because people liked him, right? I didn't. I didn't. 127 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,039 Why do you think he rubbed some people up the wrong way? 128 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:38,199 The thing is he didn't rub me up the wrong way. He didn't annoy me. 129 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,279 So you're going to have to ask someone that he annoyed. 130 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,020 I actually thought he was all right. 131 00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:47,039 - Here's Ali, who loves me. - I love you, John. - There we go. 132 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,319 In the videos, you could see that the rebels, they loved John. 133 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,559 Because he was this sort of person. 134 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,680 Annoying, making jokes, all this kind of thing. 135 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,239 - John! - There he is! 136 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,360 We went to the front lines... 137 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,439 ..together, and once he didn't even have a camera with him, you know? 138 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,160 And I felt like what is this guy doing here without a camera? 139 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:14,920 HIP�HOP MUSIC 140 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,919 You can see from his videos and his choice of music 141 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,680 that he was very excited to be a journalist in the front line. 142 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,519 War has a tremendous pull. 143 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,239 War can be fun. 144 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,599 War can be, you know, absolutely enthralling, captivating. 145 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:34,919 It can be horrific, 146 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,039 it can fuck everyone else up, it can fuck you up too. 147 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,760 So you've got to be clear about what it is that you are doing there. 148 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,599 I need to remind myself, I know why I'm going to report on this war, 149 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,279 and I know why that is important and I am a committed journalist. 150 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,039 And I'm committed enough to go into a situation 151 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,240 where I understand that I might be killed. 152 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:04,760 We were staying, all of us together, in Gaddafi's home town. 153 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:09,839 Yeah, sure. 154 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,400 And when we get to the roof, you need to stay down. 155 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,120 No, no, no, not stupid. 156 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,279 - Mari. - Teacher. 157 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,239 Mari in England is a girl's name. 158 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:40,919 Name for girl. 159 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,720 You're a big girl! 160 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,960 Do you have a cigarette, Mari? 161 00:10:45,961 --> 00:10:52,159 People who often wouldn't have been that friendly or helpful towards the West before, 162 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,599 for a time that relationship looked really good. 163 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,999 The West had a presence here amongst journalists, 164 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:04,639 which very quickly translated into Western air strikes against Gaddafi. 165 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,120 The Security Council has authorised the use of force. 166 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,639 I'm delighted to be here to show support 167 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,879 for the National Transitional Council 168 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,839 for all they're doing in Libya. 169 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,039 I wanted to come and congratulate them 170 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,239 and work out how we can help next as they rebuild their country. 171 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,959 Sarkozy and I agreed that we would go to Libya together 172 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,079 and that Britain and France should stop Gaddafi 173 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,320 from murdering and massacring his own people. 174 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,799 Gaddafi said very publicly 175 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,559 that he was going to shoot down those people like rats. 176 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:56,479 So we had a choice, Western countries like Britain. 177 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,120 Do we just stand back and let this happen, or do we try and help? 178 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,679 There were people dressed in combat gear with AK-47s 179 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:09,799 and the first one I met said that he was from Luton 180 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,199 and he was a Libyan national who lived in Britain 181 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,330 and had come out to volunteer as part of the Libyan opposition. 182 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,719 People in Libya wanted Gaddafi to go. 183 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,879 And also, let's not forget, he had also supplied the IRA 184 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,839 with semtex that had killed many people in Northern Ireland, 185 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,719 probably in mainland Britain too. 186 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,080 You know, he was a monster. 187 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:46,719 It is great to be here in free Benghazi and in free Libya. 188 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,479 CHEERING 189 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,640 People in Britain salute your courage! 190 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:58,799 It was an extraordinary visit because you couldn't help 191 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,560 just getting sort of lifted up by these crowds. 192 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,639 There was this seemingly genuine upsurge in democratic feeling 193 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,599 and of course you had to be careful not to be naive 194 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,879 and to recognise that democracy is a process, not an event. 195 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,559 You can't just suddenly go from autocracy to democracy 196 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:22,080 without it taking time, but it was a time of some hope. 197 00:13:22,081 --> 00:13:26,079 Today, David Cameron is visiting what feels in many ways 198 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,479 like a completely different country. 199 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,480 There is still serious fighting here and plenty of political instability. 200 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,119 There are still four key towns in this country 201 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,960 which are held by Gaddafi's forces. 202 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,120 Gaddafi was trying to escape. 203 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,560 NATO bombed his car and he survived. 204 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,999 The rebels got there... 205 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:54,840 GUN FIRE 206 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:00,600 ..and he was actually found by the mob. 207 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,680 He was wounded and they tortured him. 208 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,040 When he was killed... 209 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,199 ..this was the only time in my life 210 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,800 that I decided, I don't want to photograph that. 211 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,959 And today I regret that because I didn't photograph his body. 212 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,519 Everybody did, but it was so grotesque, you know? 213 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,999 Everybody going and seeing his body lying. 214 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,599 His son, you know. 215 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:33,319 They were lying, like mutilated and very wounded and smelling dead. 216 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,360 Yeah, I said, wow, you know... 217 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:39,720 ..they killed him, you know. 218 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,800 It was emptiness, yeah. 219 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,479 As Gaddafi is toppled, 220 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,520 John Cantlie shoots an immediate report inside his compound. 221 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,200 Beautiful trees and gardens, but beyond... 222 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,040 ..in Tripoli, he was denying his... 223 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,800 ..citizens pretty much everything he could. 224 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,640 The compounds have become a local tourist attraction. 225 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,240 And John knew how to capture a quickly-unfolding story. 226 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,039 This is the inside of the Mad Dog's compound, 227 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,879 after all the fighting that's been going on. 228 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,080 I don't know what the graffiti says, but I imagine it's... 229 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,560 ..all about freedom. 230 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,960 Here's one of the men that did all the hard work. Ha, ha. 231 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,159 John could shoot video and he could edit. 232 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,239 And you can see in those videos that he perhaps 233 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:49,799 saw the rebels' fight for their own freedom as a noble struggle. 234 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,720 GUN FIRE 235 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,799 When Libya was finished we said, where is the next? 236 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,399 Where is the next? Syria? OK, let's go to Syria. 237 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,119 And Syria was a completely different game. 238 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:09,120 Many people got hurt, killed and kidnapped there. 239 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,239 President Assad and his father have ruled Syria with an iron fist 240 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,280 for over 40 years. 241 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,800 But many Syrians are demanding a change in leadership. 242 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,959 John Cantlie and James Foley are making plans to head to Syria 243 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:40,960 as the situation escalates. 244 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:43,679 And it does. 245 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,640 Assad uses violence... 246 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,080 EXPLOSION 247 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,199 ..indiscriminately targeting his own people, 248 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,760 as well as aid workers and journalists. 249 00:16:57,880 --> 00:16:59,959 Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times 250 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:03,960 was among more than 20 people killed in the Syrian city of Homs today. 251 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,039 Syria is becoming extremely dangerous 252 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,120 and just a handful of foreign journalists are going in. 253 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,839 I had a close relationship with my foreign editor at the time, 254 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:19,279 and he was like, "We haven't had anybody in Syria yet. 255 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,159 "Do you think you can get that? 256 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:22,799 "Can you meet up with rebel groups 257 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,839 "and talk to them about what they're about, 258 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,160 "what they want and how they're doing." 259 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,239 The rebels are a group called the Free Syrian Army, 260 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,959 made up of many ordinary citizens and military defectors 261 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,160 who have decided to pick up arms and overthrow the regime. 262 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,199 I knew roughly where I should go, 263 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,279 which was southern Turkey and then cross in on foot. 264 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,599 As well as Anthony Loyd, 265 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:52,600 John Cantlie and James Foley are also making their way in... 266 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,280 ..to find out more about the rapidly-escalating civil war. 267 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,000 Close to the border, there was this restaurant. 268 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,360 It's a nice supper, it's like red wine, sea bass supper. 269 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,519 As I sat down, I noticed a few tables away, 270 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,919 James Foley sitting down with John Cantlie. 271 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,759 And actually James had his back to me at that time 272 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,639 and John was facing me, 273 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,399 so I didn't go over. 274 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,319 But at some point, James turned around and saw me 275 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,280 and got up and came over, which was classic James Foley. 276 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:32,239 His warmth in meeting you was kind of the same warmth 277 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,119 as someone who was having the best moment of their day. 278 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:37,519 It was just like, he made you feel great. 279 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,359 He said, "Are you coming out or are you going in?" 280 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:40,839 I was like, "I'm going in." 281 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,959 So there was lots of, "Oh, my brother." 282 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,399 And that was lovely. And John didn't come over. 283 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,959 Why don't you think he came and said hello? 284 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:50,559 Erm... 285 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,920 I know why I didn't go over and say hello. 286 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:58,680 All I saw was this very macho, loud, you know, blowing hard. 287 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,240 I find it distracting and skews the energies. 288 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,879 I didn't realise it at the time, 289 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,279 but while he was trying to portray himself as a successful journalist, 290 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:13,119 he wasn't. 291 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:16,079 He wasn't really financially successful as a photographer, 292 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,679 even though he was working with Getty. 293 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,159 He was in this kind of weird freelance space 294 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,879 where he was trying to set up his next foreign trip, 295 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,599 but trying to make ends meet in the meantime. 296 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,599 He was projecting himself as this big shot war photographer 297 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,480 and he wasn't really that, he was a struggling freelance photographer. 298 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,679 In Turkey, John is preparing to cross over the border into Syria 299 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,840 and turns the camera on himself. 300 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:48,239 I'm not going to show you where I am, for obvious reasons. 301 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,440 It's part news package, part video diary. 302 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,519 So apparently we're going to be met around five. 303 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:59,160 We then get over the border, a mix of walking and on horseback. 304 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,559 Syria was really, really dangerous. 305 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,440 And you'd have to go up with a smuggler illegally. 306 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,479 We'd go through mountains, perhaps olive groves. 307 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,679 And then you'd find coils of wire 308 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,999 and there'd be places that smuggler knows to take you through the wire. 309 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,319 And you'd be avoiding Turkish border guards, 310 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,079 who sometimes would be shooting at people. 311 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,559 These smugglers, sometimes they'd be Mr Nice Guy Smuggler, 312 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,799 but often we're talking about really kind of feral, kind of messed up, 313 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,519 you know, like skinny, scrawny, all that prison tattoos, 314 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,959 yeah, some feral people who didn't really care about you. 315 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,280 They cared about the money. 316 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,959 The war was there the moment you went in. 317 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,920 All around you, what you see, what you felt - war. 318 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,279 It was scary stuff and you didn't want the regime to get you, that was for sure. 319 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,999 You need to be sharp, you need to be edgy, 320 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,040 you need to feel a bit sick and hyper aware to go in and do it. 321 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,600 As a journalist you had to seek out areas of resistance in which to work. 322 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,490 John's videos really captured the people's plight. 323 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,959 The people here in Binnish are certainly afraid of an attack, 324 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,000 but they also seem fairly upbeat at the moment. 325 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:29,199 And they're certainly still very vocal 326 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,800 in their hatred of the Assad regime. 327 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,759 One of my friends he comes to my home and he says, 328 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,239 "Mustafa, we have a foreign journalist. 329 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,079 "They don't speak Arabic so can you help us 330 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,239 "to understand what they are saying. 331 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,039 "They're American and British." 332 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,640 So, for the first time, I meet James and John. 333 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,159 I enter and they say, "Do you speak English?" I say, "Yes." 334 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:58,239 They say, "We're coming to film Syria 335 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,879 "and show the world what is going on." 336 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:02,839 I told them, "You are welcome." 337 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,199 I was so happy to see a foreign journalist, you know? 338 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,239 We needed freedom, we needed democracy. 339 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,560 No Assad any more, you know? 340 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,519 So we had lunch in my home. 341 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,319 And John asked me, "Would you like to be our fixer?" 342 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,519 And James, directly, he answered. 343 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,879 He says, "Yes, Mustafa, we would like." 344 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,239 He says, "We are very interested to see these front lines 345 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,799 "and to film the checkpoints." 346 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,639 I told him, "This is very difficult. We cannot go to the check points. 347 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,719 "The regime will target us directly." 348 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,719 He says "Don't worry, we can cover ourselves." 349 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,040 So I told them, "OK, why not? Let's go." 350 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,119 I explained to them, "Listen, James, John, 351 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:53,319 "we're going to the front line, 352 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,199 "but we have one way to enter the city 353 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,519 "and the sniper is targeting this way. 354 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,279 "So we will cross very fast. 355 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,599 "So maybe we'll get killed, maybe injured. 356 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,599 "So do you agree with that?" 357 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,359 John, he says like, "Let's go, yeah, let's go." 358 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:14,079 He looks like he's found the treasure for him. 359 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,719 Like, OK, finally we are in the front line, 360 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,639 not protesting, boring people, like they're like shouting 361 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,639 and asking for freedom. 362 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,239 James, I told him, "What about you, James?" 363 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,880 He says like, "Sure, Mustafa, let's go." 364 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,439 On location, this is James Foley for Global Post. 365 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,719 Outside cities and towns, the army has set up checkpoints 366 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,119 where witnesses say snipers shoot civilians 367 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:41,839 and Free Syrian Army rebels seemingly indiscriminately. 368 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,799 This farmer said he and several others 369 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,630 were shot at a checkpoint near the city of Khan Shaykhun. 370 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,279 I was, like, really worried about them. 371 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,120 I carry their responsibility. 372 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:16,479 {\an8}Just in a car. I'm going from Binnish to Saraqib. 373 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,159 {\an8}We're taking all the back roads. 374 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,639 {\an8}The driver here has been absolutely brilliant, 375 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,480 {\an8}phoning ahead to see if there are checkpoints. 376 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,439 John was recording himself quite a lot. 377 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,479 {\an8}His shooting or, like, filming took you 378 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,320 {\an8}closer to the front lines than anyone else. 379 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:35,599 {\an8}The Syrian army... 380 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,839 Like, all the way asking me, "Where is the sniper? Where is the sniper?" 381 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,560 And the sniper, I told him, "Just wait. Wait." 382 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,360 He hoped to be shot. 383 00:24:54,200 --> 00:25:00,159 But... He was fine, the sniper he doesn't hit. Yeah. 384 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,199 John, he looked at me with, like, a silly look. 385 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:08,079 He's like, "There is no weapons, there is no sniper. Come on!" 386 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,680 You're like, "What you are talking about?" 387 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,919 I told him, "Thanks God we are alive. Come on. OK. 388 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,639 "We are...we are OK, we're fine. Why you are, like, sad?" 389 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:22,080 He says, "No, you told me the sniper will hit us, so nothing happened." 390 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,840 He was, like...upset of that. 391 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,359 Nearby, we watched as government forces amassed... 392 00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:33,800 John is with rebels in a town under attack by the regime... 393 00:25:33,801 --> 00:25:38,079 ..and he's beginning to record more professional reports 394 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,399 to sell to the news channels. 395 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,799 {\an8}There's probably about 40 guys here or so. 396 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,280 {\an8}GUN FIRE 397 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,399 {\an8}..which wasn't ideal. 398 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,479 {\an8}We've now got a motorway directly off our left, 399 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,119 {\an8}which we can't cross because it's a motorway. 400 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:57,559 {\an8}There's a footbridge, but they've got two T-72s 401 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:59,159 {\an8}right there next to the footbridge. 402 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:03,159 {\an8}So we've basically walked into... a bad area. 403 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,759 {\an8}So obviously it's time for tea and lots of discussion 404 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,310 {\an8}on "where is NATO?" and "we've only got Kalashnikovs." But, erm... 405 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:15,519 {\an8}..certainly so far with this group, this is going nowhere. It's 9.30. 406 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,520 {\an8}So the best thing to do is get out of here as safely as we can. 407 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:24,360 John keeps recording, despite the increasing risks. 408 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:30,199 We were surrounded. In this situation, people are nervous. 409 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:35,959 John, when you see his face entering the front line, 410 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,160 he's like a baby - you bring him a present. 411 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:46,079 John is in the front of the tank taking pictures, 412 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,679 and show me the pictures he says, like, 413 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:50,440 "Mustafa, this is a Russian tank." 414 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,279 And the tank was, like, doing, like, this, you know? Like, to hit him. 415 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,759 And the tank hit. He got shrapnel in his shoulder. 416 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:06,159 He got...he got shot by shrapnel. He doesn't care about that. 417 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,799 He was laughing. He's like, "I got shot! I got shot!" 418 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,360 That's it. 419 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:17,760 But he teach me a lot about, like, photography, how to steal your shot. 420 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,199 Like sometimes, you know, like, trying to take pictures, 421 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,199 he stopped my camera. He says, like, 422 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,919 "What is that shitty photo you're taking?" And, like, yeah. 423 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:30,520 So he pushed me a lot... 424 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,439 ..and he really support me. 425 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,279 He's the one who's, like, trying to tell me, 426 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,159 "You have a great eye, Mustafa. This is a nice shot." 427 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,999 And, "This is, this photo. This photo." And he says, like, 428 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:49,640 "Mustafa, you are stealing my career now in Syria, so go ahead." Yeah. 429 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,559 {\an8}Seven people were killed and 28 wounded, 430 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,359 {\an8}and afterwards came the burials, the martyrs - 431 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:03,720 {\an8}those killed in their homes or in defence of their town. 432 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,199 John filmed a funeral, 433 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,800 and you can really see his empathy for the Syrian people. 434 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:21,519 He was, like, affected to see massacres and to see people killed. 435 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,079 He was, like, feeling sad sometimes, 436 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,560 and, like, feeling painful about people. 437 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,200 We left, and the army controlled the city. 438 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,680 So, we left the area. 439 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:49,599 As the war becomes unpredictable, edgier, fractured, 440 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:53,119 new rebel groups emerge, all of them anti-Assad regime, 441 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:54,800 but with different ideologies. 442 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,960 Among them, jihadist factions - many connected to Al-Qaeda... 443 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,879 ..some Syrian fighters. 444 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,240 But there's a new group - foreigners from the west. 445 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,279 We've got a lot of foreign jihadists there, 446 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,959 and some really radical elements. 447 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:20,319 You didn't really want to start engaging too much, you know? 448 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,599 There's just some dangerous people there. 449 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:23,959 Basically, the rule was 450 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:27,400 you don't look at each other and you don't talk. Yeah. 451 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:35,440 While crossing the border, John encounters one of the new groups. 452 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:39,879 I remember John, he was, like, 453 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,640 crossing the border without me and James. 454 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,520 And he disappeared. 455 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:51,480 Me and a friend of mine...we were, like, trying to find him. 456 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:58,119 We figured out he got kidnapped by a group. 457 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,720 They are, like, a very extremely jihadist group. 458 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,439 I got a call from the foreign desk saying, 459 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,039 "John Cantlie's been taken." 460 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,279 I just remember just being stunned. 461 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,959 I remember just thinking, "There is no way back from that." 462 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,920 You know? I thought that was... that was going to be it for him. 463 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:26,680 But after a week, and to everyone's relief, he escapes. 464 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:37,399 And on his return to the UK, he tells his story to Scotland Yard. 465 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,239 I was asked to go and attend a debrief 466 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,560 from somebody who's been kidnapped and escaped. 467 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,359 There were people from the government there, 468 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,599 the spies were there 469 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,519 and there were some military personnel 470 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,159 all gathered around this big horseshoe table. 471 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:00,559 And on the screen was the interview. 472 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:04,399 It was John Cantlie - the name didn't mean anything at the time. 473 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,840 And I was like, "Oh, OK." 474 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,880 So John told his story in a lot of detail. 475 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:14,759 I was in Syria. 476 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:19,999 We passed through a camp which was inhabited by Islamic Jihadists. 477 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,999 They had said initially that they just wanted to check 478 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,799 who we were and then we'd be let on our way. 479 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,559 Then we're led into another tent, we're handcuffed to other prisoners. 480 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:29,919 You've got a blindfold on, 481 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:31,719 you've got guys sticking a gun in your head. 482 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,759 At one point, they started sharpening the knives 483 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:35,759 for a beheading. 484 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:37,959 And where were they from? 485 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,839 They were not from Syria. They were from anywhere BUT Syria. 486 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:43,359 They were from Bangladesh, they were from Pakistan, 487 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,999 - they were from the UK. - How many from the UK? 488 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:51,520 Probably about between ten or 15 young Jihadis from the UK. 489 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,719 Well, I mean, this is extraordinary to hear. 490 00:31:55,720 --> 00:32:00,159 Everybody in the room was really interested in John's story. 491 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,199 There was an interest in the fact that 492 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:03,959 there were British people over there 493 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,079 who'd been taken by people with British accents. 494 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,999 My boss had been involved in Iraq when that had happened, 495 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:15,799 and so he could already see that there was a potential. 496 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,480 We had had a Westerner kidnapped... 497 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,639 ..were we going to have more? What did that look like? 498 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,440 What might happen to this country? 499 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:31,119 Could you tell, were they British Asians or British Syrians? 500 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,879 I mean, do you know what their origins were? 501 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:38,279 British Asian origin, but as I say, some merely spoke English 502 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,199 but some were actually from England, you know? 503 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,519 I mean, some were so English they didn't even speak Arabic. 504 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,879 - And at one point, they sharpened knives. - Yes. 505 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,959 Well, that was after we tried to escape 506 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:55,879 on that second full day when we'd been moved to this larger tent. 507 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,239 There was a big rip in the back of this tent. 508 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,719 We stepped out the back of the tent, in the rip, 509 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:02,359 and just ran for our lives. 510 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,959 It wasn't a particularly good plan. There wasn't a plan! 511 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,759 We were just trying to literally run for our lives. 512 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,119 Unfortunately, we were spotted after about 300 metres 513 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,279 and that's when they opened fire. 514 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:17,959 It felt like 200 bullets just coming down around just like hail. 515 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:21,000 How were you able to break out in the end? 516 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:26,320 Well, we were freed by units of the Free Syrian Army. 517 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,279 So they were appalled at what had happened to us. 518 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,959 Word got out, and four guys came in, 519 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:35,079 two with Kalashnikovs, two with pistols, 520 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:36,760 and literally bust us out of there. 521 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:41,480 It's a huge story. Bam! It's everywhere. 522 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,279 He writes about it at length for the Sunday Times, 523 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,480 and it's just the most, you know, mesmerising read. 524 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:54,599 These guys who kidnapped John were not fighters. 525 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,919 They were wannabe fighters. 526 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,239 One of them is an NHS doctor, Dr Shajul Islam. 527 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:01,599 He writes about Shajul Islam 528 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:04,319 as somebody who was not into the kidnap situation, 529 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:06,959 who seems, I think from reading about it after, 530 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:10,520 is fairly apologetic to John about what's going on at the time. 531 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,239 John was treated by a doctor who is British. 532 00:34:15,240 --> 00:34:19,839 And I remember listening to people talking about that 533 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:23,079 and an investigation that could follow up 534 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:26,880 if that British doctor were to come back to the UK. 535 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:39,239 John was very proud of himself, and he wanted to tell me. 536 00:34:39,240 --> 00:34:42,399 He'd escaped, got shot, and was stood outside 537 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,520 {\an8}the front of my house...with a bandage on! 538 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:52,839 We met on an India trip in the Himalaya for veterans, 539 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:56,279 which had been set up by a very mutual friend of ours. 540 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,799 {\an8}I found him incredibly eccentric, interesting, 541 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:04,679 {\an8}and somebody that had a really dry wit 542 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:07,760 {\an8}but also was clearly a consummate professional. 543 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:13,159 And after he'd been captured, he wanted a proper story. 544 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:16,879 He wanted to go and embed himself with these British jihadis 545 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,599 to tell the truth about something that was really fast unfolding 546 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:22,530 and he was going back with James Foley. 547 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:30,639 I joined the army at 16. I then later ended up in special forces. 548 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:35,320 So me and a friend of mine tried to give him some avoidance training. 549 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:39,280 It was very basic. We used a Land Rover in a field. 550 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:45,480 How to use a car appropriately. How to get in the car, locking doors. 551 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,319 And we did conduct after-capture training, 552 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:55,039 so how to behave when you've been caught, 553 00:35:55,040 --> 00:36:01,359 {\an8}how to make yourself useful, and how to be amenable and valuable. 554 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,760 {\an8}And John was really interested in that. 555 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:08,639 As soon as he told me he was going, I told him he was an idiot. 556 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,999 And so he had to take this little brick around with him, 557 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,239 this tracking beacon, which I made him take. 558 00:36:15,240 --> 00:36:18,800 {\an8}But I knew then, as I do now, there was no point trying to stop him. 559 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,919 Syria had really got under John's skin as a story. 560 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,439 He was adamant that he was going to go back. 561 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:28,879 Going back into Syria with the same flak jacket that didn't fit him, 562 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,479 and, you know... But maybe with some new cameras this time. 563 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:33,719 And I remember just thinking... I said, 564 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:37,599 "It's really reckless to do that. I think you're making a mistake." 565 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,159 I said, "If you think you are going to get recognition..." 566 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,359 He said, "It's the story." 567 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,039 He was just saying, "I'm going to go back, I'm going to go back." 568 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,399 But it was a mantra, the way he was saying it. 569 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:49,479 It was like he was possessed, you know? 570 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:52,760 It's like, "I'm going back, you know, I'm going back." 571 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:55,719 Will you go back? 572 00:36:55,720 --> 00:36:58,239 I've got to get this hand sorted, but, yes, absolutely. 573 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:00,439 The people, the Syrian people, are amazing. 574 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:04,639 And it's my job. I don't really know how to do anything else. 575 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:08,480 Thank you for coming and talking to us and we wish you the best of luck. 576 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,200 As John plans his return to Syria... 577 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:18,520 ..Assad's violence against his people is intensifying. 578 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,480 I hadn't met Assad, I hadn't been to Syria... 579 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:32,400 ..but there was appalling destruction of cities like Aleppo. 580 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:36,120 Appalling levels of casualties... 581 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:41,360 ..and added to that, an enormous refugee crisis. 582 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,160 You know, I felt, as the UK Prime Minister, we needed to do more. 583 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:51,919 The only way out of Syria's nightmare 584 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:54,999 is to move forward towards political transition 585 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:57,639 and not to give up the cause of freedom. 586 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,520 The future for Syria is a future without Assad. 587 00:38:02,720 --> 00:38:07,359 We must now join together to support a rapid political transition. 588 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:08,760 Thank you. 589 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:13,719 What I wanted was for Britain and allies 590 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:18,599 and particularly America to support the Free Syria Army. 591 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:22,919 There was a Syrian national opposition, 592 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:24,839 a coalition of forces that included 593 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:28,519 Sunnis and Shias and Kurds and Christians, 594 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:32,039 who were trying to build a different future for their country. 595 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:36,079 And obviously the Arab states were encouraging us to do this, 596 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,840 and so we had to act as urgently as we could. 597 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:48,319 James, Mustafa and John head to Aleppo, 598 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:52,040 Syria's second city, where there is intensive fighting. 599 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:57,800 They embed with the Free Syrian Army. 600 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:05,920 Me and James and John, we decide to go to Aleppo. 601 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:11,880 The Free Syrian Army, they took the Western Aleppo. 602 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:17,519 The neighbourhoods and the houses are, like, very close to each other. 603 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:20,599 So the regime in this house and the opposition in this house, 604 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:22,799 so you can see them in front of you 605 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:24,719 and they're, like, jumping on the roofs. 606 00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:27,240 They're, like, fighting, like, very closely. 607 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:34,919 The Free Syrian Army tried to give me a weapon. 608 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:36,879 They offer me a bomb grenade. 609 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:39,479 They told me, "Like, just keep it in your pocket. 610 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:42,119 "Like, maybe if we are, like, surrounded, all of us, 611 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:45,319 "and we got killed, at least you protect yourself." 612 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:49,759 - INTERPRETING: - This is a bomb, a handmade bomb here, made in Syria... 613 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,599 I told him, "No, I'm not, like... I'm not using weapons." 614 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:54,839 I told him, "OK, I will kill you all. 615 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:57,079 "Maybe I will take it and throw it like this." 616 00:39:57,080 --> 00:39:59,520 He says, "OK, no need." 617 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:08,480 I was watching very closely John and James, how they are behaving. 618 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,119 James used to call me "bro", and I loved this. 619 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,360 "Hey, bro." Yeah... 620 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,879 James the one who, like, writing everything. 621 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,039 Like, when we stop anything, he notes, 622 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,600 trying to steal the...the moments. 623 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:44,039 I saw a video when James filmed a wedding 624 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:47,160 between a nurse and a young Free Syrian Army fighter. 625 00:40:55,800 --> 00:41:01,079 James was really drawn to this kind of, er...story... 626 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:04,359 ..that, in war, people try their best to continue their lives 627 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:06,799 despite the condition they find themselves in. 628 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:08,240 THEY SING 629 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:18,999 While John was looking to learn more 630 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:21,440 about the presence of British jihadis in Syria... 631 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:26,120 We ask the Free Syrian Army to go to the front line... 632 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:32,279 ..and they told us, "We have our front line as a Free Syrian Army 633 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:34,839 "and they have their front lines. 634 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:38,320 "Who they are? They are the jihadist group." 635 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:44,119 And they said, like, "So stay with us, 636 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:48,000 "because jihadists, they don't like foreigner journalists." 637 00:41:56,200 --> 00:42:02,280 When you guys cut it, try not to make it look worse than it is. 638 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:13,160 We were in Aleppo. 639 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,080 You see a bomb. 640 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:25,040 I think a building got hit, and I got hit by shrapnel. 641 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:28,719 {\an8}My head was broken twice. 642 00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:31,480 {\an8}I met many foreign people in Syria. 643 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:38,159 They didn't come to any...to join the fight, or something like this. 644 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:39,919 They came in the beginning. 645 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:44,120 For example, doing...voluntary work and things like this. 646 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:48,919 I lived in the UK since 2000. 647 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:52,520 {\an8}I went to University of East London - civil engineering. 648 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:01,039 But on TV you're seeing a lot of crazy stuff 649 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:03,799 and there's many videos on YouTube, also. 650 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:08,119 People beating people, people living in the camps, 651 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:10,319 and you just see many different things. 652 00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:12,759 So I was thinking... You know, 653 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:15,080 "you know, I'm just going to go there." 654 00:43:17,440 --> 00:43:20,519 In the beginning, many of the people that came, 655 00:43:20,520 --> 00:43:23,079 they came for a good cause. 656 00:43:23,080 --> 00:43:25,730 But in the end, you might find the guy with the weapon. 657 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,279 I don't know what happened. I cannot explain it to you. 658 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:33,080 You know, things happen and things get out of hand. 659 00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:40,279 People start killing people and stealing from people and... 660 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:41,920 ..doing crazy stuff. 661 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:49,639 Nero Saraiva is accused of being a senior jihadist recruiter, 662 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:52,680 fundraiser and member of a snipers' unit. 663 00:43:53,391 --> 00:43:58,079 In the press, the Portuguese press described you 664 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:01,279 as the leader of the foreign unit. Is that true? 665 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:02,480 No. 666 00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:12,119 You've put me on a...on...on a very, very high thing. 667 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:15,799 I'm a simple guy, and... A normal guy, a simple guy. 668 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:20,199 I didn't do many...many of the things that people say I did. 669 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:22,959 I don't think it's even true. 670 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:27,160 - Did you ever meet John Cantlie? - John Cantlie? No, no. I never saw him. 671 00:44:27,371 --> 00:44:31,159 I have nothing to do with John Cantlie, 672 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:33,519 but I know that things happened to him. 673 00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:36,650 He got kidnapped and things like this, but I don't know the guy. 674 00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:42,360 In Syria, everybody's trying to film and things. 675 00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:45,799 There were journalists everywhere. 676 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:48,279 Now look carefully for him. 677 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:51,400 We will walk the same way he do it. OK? 678 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:53,960 It's very dangerous. 679 00:44:55,360 --> 00:45:01,799 All this area is targeted by the regime snipers. 680 00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:06,360 The leader told us more than 20 people was killed in this area. 681 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:09,879 Stay there, stay there, stay there! 682 00:45:09,880 --> 00:45:12,240 We need to run very fast. 683 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:17,640 So there's, like, seven members of the Free Syrian Army. They cross. 684 00:45:20,440 --> 00:45:21,960 THEY TALK 685 00:45:22,891 --> 00:45:27,079 And from the other side, they said, like, 686 00:45:27,080 --> 00:45:30,719 "OK, we are safe, we are safe. Come." 687 00:45:30,720 --> 00:45:32,159 I told John, "Are you ready?" 688 00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:34,919 He says, like, "You go and I'm waiting for you here. 689 00:45:34,920 --> 00:45:36,559 "Don't worry about me." 690 00:45:36,560 --> 00:45:39,879 And we start to run, me and James. 691 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:41,920 - OK, go. - INDISTINCT DIALOGUE 692 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:48,839 John, he was walking very slowly 693 00:45:48,840 --> 00:45:53,120 and he was, like, doing for the sniper like this. "Hey! I am here!" 694 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:56,399 Oh, my God! He's, like... 695 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,640 The leader was shouting and swearing against him. 696 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:12,770 I ask him, "John, can you please explain to me what's going on? 697 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:15,839 "Why you are putting yourself at risk?" 698 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:18,719 He says, "Mustafa, you are, like, almost 15 people. 699 00:46:18,720 --> 00:46:22,159 "you cross the road and nothing happened. 700 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:25,639 "Even the sniper, he doesn't, like, target you. There is no sniper." 701 00:46:25,640 --> 00:46:27,159 That's it. 702 00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:28,560 Lay down and run. 703 00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:35,479 - Let's go. - There is an airplane - hurry. 704 00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:38,280 We went to the front line with the Free Syrian Army... 705 00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:45,320 ..shooting photos and videos. 706 00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:49,480 Suddenly, I miss John. 707 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:54,760 Where is John? 708 00:46:57,280 --> 00:46:58,879 I ask Jimmy, "Where is John?" 709 00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:01,760 He says, "I don't know. Where's John? No-one knows." 710 00:47:06,320 --> 00:47:07,959 One guy, he told us, 711 00:47:07,960 --> 00:47:12,040 "I saw that guy, that British guy. He went to the... That house." 712 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:17,800 It was a huge house with holes in the wall. 713 00:47:20,240 --> 00:47:25,519 All the fighters inside, they are Jabhat al-Nusra - Al-Qaeda. 714 00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:29,280 So, John was in the house of a jihadist group. 715 00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:34,440 So, I go to the... to that house. 716 00:47:40,440 --> 00:47:42,439 I see a jihadist with a beard, 717 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:45,959 and say, like, "Asalamu alaikum". "Wa alaikumsalaam." 718 00:47:45,960 --> 00:47:48,999 "Have you seen any, like a journalist, 719 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:51,959 "like, foreigner journalist?" 720 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:56,040 He says, "Yes. He's upstairs." Yeah. 721 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:00,559 I told him, "Can I call him? Can I talk to him, please?" 722 00:48:00,560 --> 00:48:02,240 He said, "Yes. Yeah, go on." 723 00:48:05,600 --> 00:48:07,679 I entered the room. 724 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:13,799 John was surrounded by, like, more than 15 men - 725 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:15,799 men of, like, jihadist - 726 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:18,600 and they're attacking him with questions. 727 00:48:20,360 --> 00:48:24,520 "Do you know John Cantlie, the one who was on the TV?" 728 00:48:26,160 --> 00:48:28,240 And he was like, "No, I don't." 729 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:32,280 They are speaking English, most of them. 730 00:48:33,360 --> 00:48:37,600 All of them, in front of them, their Kalashnikov. 731 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:43,719 For me, it was like, they already knew him, 732 00:48:43,720 --> 00:48:47,519 but they're trying, you know, to scare him, you know? 733 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:49,000 Because he's in their hands. 734 00:48:49,001 --> 00:48:53,159 I Look at his face, I says, like, "Johnny, what are you doing here?" 735 00:48:53,160 --> 00:48:54,639 They asked me, "Who are you?" 736 00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:57,000 I told him, "He's my friend. Let's go." 737 00:48:59,080 --> 00:49:04,199 Thank God, the group of Free Syrian Army, 738 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:05,600 they come to the door. 739 00:49:05,731 --> 00:49:09,919 The Jihadists, they don't want trouble, 740 00:49:09,920 --> 00:49:11,840 and John was released. 741 00:49:16,480 --> 00:49:19,959 We go outside, I was, like, shouting with him. 742 00:49:19,960 --> 00:49:22,360 Blaming him. "John, what are you doing?" 743 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:27,039 John, he felt like a baby when he comes to his mother 744 00:49:27,040 --> 00:49:30,800 to protect him, you know, like, "Finally, I-I'm OK." 745 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:34,999 He says, "Mustafa, let's move, let's move. 746 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,400 "We have to leave this area." 747 00:49:37,401 --> 00:49:40,999 I told him, "I'm not going to stay any moment here. 748 00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:42,840 "Me and James, we are leaving." 749 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:51,760 We left Aleppo. 750 00:49:56,760 --> 00:50:00,119 OFF-CAMERA: Why do you think John keeps being in this position? 751 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:02,919 For me, when I ask him, he says, like, 752 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:06,079 they are like very interested to film them, 753 00:50:06,080 --> 00:50:10,519 to show, like...the Western media, 754 00:50:10,520 --> 00:50:13,840 there is, like, jihadist groups, whatever. So... 755 00:50:16,440 --> 00:50:22,679 So, this was the 19th of November, 2012, 0929 hours. 756 00:50:22,680 --> 00:50:24,879 "Hi, Kev, I just came out of Aleppo. 757 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:28,999 "I'm back in Turkey for a few days before going back to Syria, 758 00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:32,199 "this time further south, in Idlib province, 759 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:34,639 "to meet my old UK contacts." 760 00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:39,399 I remember him being committed to meeting people in London 761 00:50:39,400 --> 00:50:41,119 who were setting this up. 762 00:50:41,120 --> 00:50:42,639 OFF-CAMERA: Setting what up? 763 00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:44,399 Setting up these meetings for him. 764 00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:49,639 He was connected to people in London and in the UK that were 765 00:50:49,640 --> 00:50:54,839 helping him understand why and how 766 00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:58,199 these young men from the UK were forming part of 767 00:50:58,200 --> 00:51:00,799 this fundamentalist movement. 768 00:51:00,800 --> 00:51:03,439 That was the thing he was interested in. 769 00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:05,800 That was the thing he wanted to understand. 770 00:51:06,760 --> 00:51:08,039 Yeah. 771 00:51:08,040 --> 00:51:11,199 So, John sent a message to Kev, 772 00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:14,599 saying he was going back in to meet British - 773 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:16,679 meet his UK associates. 774 00:51:16,680 --> 00:51:19,279 It was a very strange message to write, yeah. 775 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:23,919 Now, the implication of that is that he's going back in to try 776 00:51:23,920 --> 00:51:26,399 and meet up with some of the British jihadis who 777 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:28,279 he'd encountered the first time. 778 00:51:28,280 --> 00:51:30,199 But why would he... 779 00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:31,599 Why would he've wanted to do that? 780 00:51:31,600 --> 00:51:33,999 It's quite strange that he decided to put that in a text message 781 00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:35,239 for a start, number one. 782 00:51:35,240 --> 00:51:38,719 It's kind of like, don't say that kind of stuff in a text message. 783 00:51:38,720 --> 00:51:42,199 Number two - it's probably not true. 784 00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:45,479 I don't think that John would've maintained a relationship 785 00:51:45,480 --> 00:51:48,439 with people who, one minute, are trying to saw his head off. 786 00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:50,719 What are you going to do, text and say, "I'm coming back. 787 00:51:50,720 --> 00:51:52,119 "Do you want an interview?" 788 00:51:52,120 --> 00:51:55,319 I think, it's kind of... not what you're trying to do. 789 00:51:55,320 --> 00:51:58,319 Did John, for everything I've just said, 790 00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:01,199 want to try and pursue that story of foreign jihadis, 791 00:52:01,200 --> 00:52:03,359 or start speaking to foreign jihadis? 792 00:52:03,360 --> 00:52:05,319 Yeah, for sure he did, and we know that, 793 00:52:05,320 --> 00:52:08,199 cos he went to Aleppo and got himself into a room with 794 00:52:08,200 --> 00:52:10,439 a whole lot of foreign jihadis. 795 00:52:10,440 --> 00:52:13,079 You've got to remember, as a freelancer, 796 00:52:13,080 --> 00:52:15,999 you go into really dangerous environments - 797 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:19,480 because often, that's how the best stories are broken. 798 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:27,159 Back in Syria, the story that John has been chasing 799 00:52:27,160 --> 00:52:29,879 is much closer to him than he thinks. 800 00:52:29,880 --> 00:52:34,119 We decided to go to the internet cafe in Binnish, 801 00:52:34,120 --> 00:52:35,960 to upload everything we have. 802 00:52:37,040 --> 00:52:40,800 John, he's like talking to all the people around him. 803 00:52:42,440 --> 00:52:46,800 A man was, like, coming into the internet cafe with a big beard. 804 00:52:48,320 --> 00:52:51,680 And John, he shout, "Hey, Che Guevara"! 805 00:52:53,920 --> 00:52:57,159 And the guy, he looked at him, like, very weird look, 806 00:52:57,160 --> 00:52:58,440 very strange. 807 00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:02,199 James, he was a bit worried. 808 00:53:02,200 --> 00:53:04,599 He says, like, "John, what are you doing? 809 00:53:04,600 --> 00:53:06,800 "Hey, shut up, please." 810 00:53:08,960 --> 00:53:12,520 The man sat five minutes, and then, he left. 811 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:17,319 After he leaves, we go to the taxi. 812 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:23,039 There was, like, several taxis in front of the internet cafe. 813 00:53:23,040 --> 00:53:24,720 We asked him to go to the border. 814 00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:32,200 And suddenly, there was a van. 815 00:53:33,800 --> 00:53:36,479 They moved, like, with us. 816 00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:39,640 So, when they move, they open the door. 817 00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:42,839 There was, like, masked people. 818 00:53:42,840 --> 00:53:44,200 They have Kalashnikovs. 819 00:53:45,560 --> 00:53:48,079 The taxi driver, he wants to stop. 820 00:53:48,080 --> 00:53:50,479 John, he was asking him, "Don't stop." 821 00:53:50,480 --> 00:53:53,479 He's, like, hitting the chair of the driver. 822 00:53:53,480 --> 00:53:56,279 "Go fast, go faster, go faster. Mustafa, please ask him." 823 00:53:56,280 --> 00:53:58,200 And then, I ask him to go faster. 824 00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:02,119 But they blocked the way, 825 00:54:02,120 --> 00:54:04,080 and the taxi driver was forced to stop. 826 00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:09,759 And they start shouting, "Get out of the car." 827 00:54:09,760 --> 00:54:12,039 One of them, he took me out. 828 00:54:12,040 --> 00:54:15,839 He was like shouting, just to lay down on the ground. 829 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:18,790 But James and John, they don't understand what's going on. 830 00:54:19,840 --> 00:54:24,159 I have a scarf on my neck. 831 00:54:24,160 --> 00:54:25,999 He took it, one of them. 832 00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:29,519 He took the scarf, and he asked me to tie their hands, 833 00:54:29,520 --> 00:54:31,759 er, John's hands. 834 00:54:31,760 --> 00:54:34,319 I told him, "I'm not going to do it." 835 00:54:34,320 --> 00:54:38,199 They were, like, carrying the weapons, 836 00:54:38,200 --> 00:54:40,199 and they start to shoot. 837 00:54:40,200 --> 00:54:43,880 And he was like shouting, asking me, forcing me to do that. 838 00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:49,279 So, I was forced to tie John's hand. 839 00:54:49,280 --> 00:54:50,330 Yeah. 840 00:54:52,040 --> 00:54:54,279 And I was telling him, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 841 00:54:54,280 --> 00:54:55,999 "I'm sorry, John." 842 00:54:56,000 --> 00:54:57,679 Yeah. 843 00:54:57,680 --> 00:55:01,359 And John, he was like saying, "Please, Mustafa, not again. 844 00:55:01,360 --> 00:55:05,039 "I don't want to be in this situation again." Yeah. 845 00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:06,120 Yeah. 846 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:12,919 So, yeah, it was very difficult to me, 847 00:55:12,920 --> 00:55:16,720 and so hard, painful to tie your friend's hands. 848 00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:22,999 HE SIGHS SHAKILY 849 00:55:23,000 --> 00:55:25,559 But I couldn't do anything. 850 00:55:25,560 --> 00:55:27,240 I tried to, like... 851 00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:31,679 They took me to the car. 852 00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:33,799 Me and James, and John, they asked me - 853 00:55:33,800 --> 00:55:36,600 they asked them also, like, to the van. 854 00:55:37,600 --> 00:55:41,040 I remember the van was full of diesel. 855 00:55:42,120 --> 00:55:47,879 And they put us, like, I was full of diesel in the van, 856 00:55:47,880 --> 00:55:51,479 and one of them, he took me from my shirt. 857 00:55:51,480 --> 00:55:53,999 And he asked me, "What is your name?" 858 00:55:54,000 --> 00:55:55,719 And I told him my name. 859 00:55:55,720 --> 00:55:57,799 He said, "Where are you from? From Binnish, you told me." 860 00:55:57,800 --> 00:55:59,279 I told him, "Yes." 861 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:01,280 He says, "You leave. We don't need you." 862 00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:07,319 But I told him, "I need my friend. I will go with them." 863 00:56:07,320 --> 00:56:09,999 He says like, "Last time, seriously, if you don't move, 864 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:13,679 "if you do not leave with your taxi driver, I'll kill you." 865 00:56:13,680 --> 00:56:15,560 Yeah, he was like very serious. 866 00:56:17,720 --> 00:56:20,119 Yeah, and the taxi driver was asking me, 867 00:56:20,120 --> 00:56:21,559 "Mustafa, just leave. 868 00:56:21,560 --> 00:56:24,719 "Like, they're going to kill you. Just leave them. 869 00:56:24,720 --> 00:56:27,039 "They're telling you they will ask them some questions, 870 00:56:27,040 --> 00:56:28,920 "and they will leave." Yeah. 871 00:56:37,520 --> 00:56:42,039 When their car was targeted, John's beacon went off. 872 00:56:42,040 --> 00:56:45,479 It has, you know, an emergency response on it. 873 00:56:45,480 --> 00:56:48,760 And then, it sends out a signal to all your contacts. 874 00:56:56,360 --> 00:56:59,839 My primary role is dealing with crisis. 875 00:56:59,840 --> 00:57:03,559 Kidnappings, hostage-taking, piracy, disappearing people, 876 00:57:03,560 --> 00:57:04,959 threat, extortion. 877 00:57:04,960 --> 00:57:06,479 PHONE RINGS 878 00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:10,639 I received a phone call from the employer of James Foley, 879 00:57:10,640 --> 00:57:14,120 who asked me if I was available to go to Turkey. 880 00:57:15,320 --> 00:57:17,960 And I said, "Sure," and deployed immediately. 881 00:57:19,160 --> 00:57:22,479 You take out a policy with an adviser that, 882 00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:24,839 when something like this happens, 883 00:57:24,840 --> 00:57:27,879 you have access to people with specialised knowledge 884 00:57:27,880 --> 00:57:29,600 about how to deal with it. 885 00:57:30,640 --> 00:57:34,279 We knew that James was travelling with John Cantlie, 886 00:57:34,280 --> 00:57:35,840 and they were together. 887 00:57:36,960 --> 00:57:39,240 My focus was getting them back. 888 00:57:43,080 --> 00:57:46,039 When they disappeared, I cannot believe that. 889 00:57:46,040 --> 00:57:49,959 NEWSREADER: John Cantlie, believed to be being held by extremists. 890 00:57:49,960 --> 00:57:52,600 The Three Beatles heavily tortured us. 891 00:57:53,640 --> 00:57:55,919 John Cantlie was very brave. 892 00:57:55,920 --> 00:57:57,879 He wasn't afraid of anything. 893 00:57:57,880 --> 00:57:59,999 I think they respected him. 894 00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:03,519 NEWSREADER: The Jihadis are holding many more foreign hostages. 895 00:58:03,520 --> 00:58:07,279 We were desperate for information about James. 896 00:58:07,280 --> 00:58:10,519 They had sent this horrific email. 897 00:58:10,520 --> 00:58:13,359 The were asking for millions and millions of dollars. 898 00:58:13,360 --> 00:58:15,680 We would not pay ransoms to terrorists. 899 00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:18,199 There is no negotiation. 900 00:58:18,200 --> 00:58:21,049 We come through the fucking door, kill you all, and get everyone out. 901 00:58:21,050 --> 00:58:25,600 Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0