U.S. probes report of American’s arrest in Syria
The U.S. government is looking into reports of an arrest of a U.S. citizen in Syria, a senior State Department official told CNN on Friday.
The arrest of a man named Abdelkadar Chaar possibly took place in Aleppo on January 8, the official said.
“We have been in contact with the Syrian authorities and have requested confirmation of the arrest and consular access,” he said.
The man’s uncle said the family has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. The family has also reached out to Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, but has yet to receive a response from his office, Sam Chaar said.
Abdelkadar Chaar, 22, was born in Syracuse, New York, moved to Aleppo with his parents when he was a boy and is currently a medical student at Aleppo University, his uncle said. He was arrested early in the morning on January 8; his family has not been told why, the elder Chaar said.
News of the arrest surfaced as anti-government ferment raged in the country.