Colombia’s largest guerrilla group the FARC on Saturday admitted the rebels’ 15th front is holding French journalist Romeo Langlois as a prisoner of war.
In a video recorded by British journalist Karl Penhaul on Saturday and released Sunday, FARC squad commander “Ancizar” or “Monazo” read a statement confirming claims that the guerrillas are holding the Frenchman captive.
According to Ancizar, Langlois’ arm was lightly injured, but is doing well.
The FARC commander said the guerrillas found out about Langlois’ identity as a journalist through the media and were hoping for a quick “solution to the impasse.”
Ancizar claimed that the guerrillas killed 17 soldiers in the fighting that injured Langlois. According to official government reports, only four soldiers were killed.
The French reporter disappeared on April 28 while reporting on anti-narcotics operations in the southern department of Caqueta.