Local Native Among Hikers Held In Iran
Swiss Diplomats Working On Behalf Of U.S.
An Elkins Park man traveling in the Middle East with friends has been arrested in Iran.
Joshua Fattal and two friends were detained after crossing the boarder from Northern Iraq. Iranian state television confirmed that the three Americans were taken into custody after failing to "heed warnings from Iranian guards." News reports say Fattal was hiking with another man and woman.
Fattal's parents live in Elkins Park. He now lives in Oregon.
His mother, Laura Fattal, issued a brief statement at her home Sunday saying she and her husband were only concerned about the well-being of her son and the two others.
Congressman Joe Sestak says that he has no doubt that the tourists will be returned safely. "Above anything else, their health, their security is of interest here and I think this can be a step towards trying to work deliberately towards a resolution of something between our two nations and perhaps build upon it, who knows, for something in the future."
The area where the three disappeared is a popular hiking destination known for a picturesque waterfall and rocky scenery as well as a thick growth of fruit and nut trees.
Camping equipment and two backpacks apparently belonging to the Americans were found in the area and it seemed they were hiking above the waterfall when they accidentally crossed the border, a Kurdish security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
A Kurdish security officials says the three hikers contacted a fourth would-be companion, Shon Meckfessel, just before they were captured by Iranian border guards, telling him they had wandered into Iran by mistake and were surrounded by troops.
Spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri says the Swiss Embassy in Tehran is trying to determine what happened through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran for 30 years, and the State Department asked it to intervene in this case. Olivieri told The Associated Press on Sunday that the Swiss diplomats have asked to have consular access to the Americans if their presence in Iran is confirmed.
