READ MORE- New York Times thanks IrishCentral on reporter-kidnap story


Four New York Times journalists are missing in Libya, the newspaper announced Wednesday.

Among those missing is Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who holds Irish citizenship. This is the third time Farrell has been kidnapped. He was first captured in Iraq in 2004. He was held captive for a short time before he negotiated his freedom with his Iraqi captives. He was later kidnapped by the Taliban in September 2009 and was later rescued by British forces.

Farrell reports from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq in print and video.

The other journalists missing include the newspaper’s Beirut bureau chief Anthony Shadid who is a Pulitzer Prize winner for foreign reporting and two photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario.

The New York Times said the journalists were last in contact with their editors on Tuesday. It added that it could not confirm if the journalists were taken by Libyan government forces.

"We have talked with officials of the Libyan government in Tripoli, and they tell us they are attempting to ascertain the whereabouts of our journalists," executive editor Bill Keller said. "We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed."

"Their families and their colleagues at The Times are anxiously seeking information about their situation, and praying that they are safe," he added.

READ MORE- New York Times thanks IrishCentral on reporter-kidnap story