West Bank – Palestinian security officials are investigating a claim that an American student by the name of Michael Philips has been kidnapped in the West Bank city of Nablus.
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A group calling itself Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility in a statement it sent to local journalists. The group also said that it faxed a photocopy of the student’s passport to news agencies and Palestinian security offices.
Samah Atout, manager of Project Hope, where Philips was working as a teacher, said she received a call saying Phillips had been kidnapped.
She said Phillips was working with Project Hope in refugee camps near the West Bank city of Nablus, teaching English.
The military said that it was looking into the report, and said that it had not yet obtained any confirmation of the group’s claim.
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The American teacher was freed late Wednesday after being held for a day by Palestinians. He appeared to be unharmed.