Richard Engel Reveals A Diary Of His Syrian Kidnapping—and How His Captors Terrorized Their Victims

NBC News Correspondent's Diary Of Kidnapping In Syria
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: (AFP OUT) In this television screen grab taken and provided by NBC, NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel speaks via satellite from to Sderot, Israel to host David Gregory during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios on January 4, 2009 in Washington, DC. Engel discussed the current Israel Gaza Conflict which is now in its ninth day. (Photo by NBC/Meet the Press via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: (AFP OUT) In this television screen grab taken and provided by NBC, NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel speaks via satellite from to Sderot, Israel to host David Gregory during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios on January 4, 2009 in Washington, DC. Engel discussed the current Israel Gaza Conflict which is now in its ninth day. (Photo by NBC/Meet the Press via Getty Images)

A group of about 15 armed men were fanning out around us. Three or four of them stood in the middle of the road blocking our vehicles. The others went for the doors. They wore black jackets, black boots, and black ski masks. They were professionals and used hand signals to communicate. A balled fist meant stop. A pointed finger meant advance. Each man carried an AK-47. Several of the gunmen began hitting the windows of our car and minivan with the stocks of their weapons. When they got the doors open, they leveled their guns at our chests.

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