Richard Engel, crew speak out after escape in Syria

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-- new details now on an NBC news reporter captured in Syria.

Syrian rebels grabbed him a couple of days ago and he was just released this morning many were fearing the worst.

Now he is describing how the rebels kept his team blindfolded and tied up he says they were not physically beaten but suffered a lot of psychological torture.

Including threats of being killed.

Traces the details now Trace.

NBC's Richard -- -- and says that he and his crew were being escorted by a group of rebels in an area they thought was controlled by the rebels when suddenly a group of fifteen armed gunmen.

Who were sympathetic to the Syrian government jumped out wearing ski masked heavily armed behind bushes and trees they grab them put them in a container truck.

He says his captors were supporting the Syrian government and executed one of the rebel escorts on the spot.

Then took him and his crew to a series of safe house is keeping them blindfolded.

And bound -- -- -- Physically beaten or tortured -- a lot of psychological torture threats of being killed.

They made us choose which one of us would be shocked first and when we refuse they were -- shootings they pretended to shoot Ghazi several times and blindfolded.

And our tour they've been in the -- -- up in the air.

Late last night angle says they were being moved again.

To what he thinks was a Hezbollah stronghold in Syria they unexpectedly came across a rebel checkpoint a gun fight broke out.

Two of his captors were killed he and his crew he says were rescued by the rebels must.

The last five days -- very difficult.

We're very happy to be out we're very happy to be back in Turkey.

We love being here we love this country we appreciate.

All the help.

Richard -- by the way has been NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent since 2008 he speaks fluent Arabic.

And we should note that this year alone 28 journalists have been killed inside Syria.

That's such a dangerous place including for the press thank goodness for his safe -- leave.

Released the -- thank you.

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Richard Engel, crew speak out after escape in Syria

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