Crazy Flux
  • Business
  • World
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Business
  • World
  • Stocks
  • Investing

Crazy Flux

World

US pastor rescued ‘miraculously unharmed’ by South African police after gun battle with kidnappers

by admin April 17, 2025
April 17, 2025
US pastor rescued ‘miraculously unharmed’ by South African police after gun battle with kidnappers

An American preacher who was taken hostage by armed men while preaching a sermon in a South African township last week has been rescued in a fierce gun battle with his kidnappers, police said Wednesday.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was kidnapped last Thursday during an evening service in Motherwell, a township in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, the Fellowship Baptist Church said.

The South African Police Service said officers launched a rescue operation after receiving intelligence the pastor was being held by his abductors at a house in KwaMagxaki, another township in the city.

A rescue team was sent to the location, a police statement said, “leading to a high-intensity shootout” that left “three unidentified suspects” dead.

“As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team,” the statement read.

It added that Sullivan, whom the Associated Press reported is from the US state of Tennessee, was found inside the vehicle “miraculously unharmed” and “is currently in an excellent condition.”

Tom Hatley, whom Sullivan had said on his website he was training under, also announced the rescue. “Josh has been released,” Hatley wrote in a Facebook post along with a picture of Sullivan and his family. “I just got ‘the go ahead to let it be known,’” he added while urging for privacy from the public.

“Also, PLEASE respect The Sullivans privacy and their parents. A lot of folks love The Sullivans and they love you back, but give them some time,” he said in another post.

Kidnappings are at a record high in South Africa with an average of 51 abductions every day, authorities said last year. The country also grapples with deadly mass shootings and a murder rate that is among the highest in the world.

Sullivan’s abduction comes two months after renowned Islamic cleric Muhsin Hendricks was shot dead by armed men in Bethelsdorp, also in the Eastern Cape province.

Sullivan, who describes himself as “a church planting missionary,” arrived in South Africa in 2018 with plans to “finish language school … and plant a church to the Xhosa speaking people,” he said on his website.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

previous post
Nora Aunor, one of Philippine cinema’s biggest stars, dies at 71
next post
OpenAI in talks to pay about $3 billion to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf

Related Posts

Teenage girl killed in shark attack while swimming...

February 4, 2025

Italian police arrest around 130 people in massive...

February 12, 2025

Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe shot in Bogota

June 8, 2025

UK police arrest third man over fire at...

May 20, 2025

Man who lost $800 million bitcoin in landfill...

February 15, 2025

Russia says dozens of drones fired at Moscow...

March 11, 2025

Ukraine says it has uncovered Hungarian spy network...

May 10, 2025

Netanyahu calls defeating Israel’s enemies the ‘supreme objective,’...

May 2, 2025

Trump says US is ‘very close’ to a...

May 16, 2025

South Korea’s ousted Yoon moves back to apartment...

April 12, 2025

    Join our mailing list to get access to special deals, promotions, and insider information. Your exclusive benefits await! Enjoy personalized recommendations, first dibs on sales, and members-only content that makes you feel like a true VIP. Sign up now and start saving!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent

    • The Real Drivers of This Market: AI, Semis & Robotics

      September 13, 2025
    • S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

      September 13, 2025
    • Cardiol Therapeutics

      September 13, 2025
    • Providence Gold Mines Inc. Announces Financing Update on the La Dama de Oro Gold Property

      September 13, 2025
    • Editor’s Picks: Gold Knocks Out Inflation-Adjusted High, Silver Breaks US$42

      September 13, 2025
    • Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Guardian Exploration Gains 94 Percent

      September 13, 2025
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Email Whitelisting

    Disclaimer: crazyflux.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.


    Copyright © 2025 crazyflux.com | All Rights Reserved