BREAKING NEWS

Two 'London Times' journalists released after being kidnapped in Syria

Two London Times journalists covering the Syrian civil war were kidnapped by a "rebel gang" and one of them was shot before members of an anti-extremist rebel group intervened and secured their release, the Times reported on Thursday.

Reporter Anthony Loyd was shot twice in the leg while being held captive and photographer Jack Hill suffered a severe beating after trying to escape, it said.

The two, who had spent several days covering the restive city of Aleppo for the Times, were released on Wednesday after local commanders of the group Islamic Front intervened. They later crossed into Turkey, the paper said.