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An American pastor abducted during a church service in South Africa last week was rescued on Tuesday night, April 15, 2025, following a fierce gunfight that left three suspects fatally wounded, South African police confirmed.
Josh Sullivan, a 45-year-old missionary from the United States, had been missing for five days after a group of armed men stormed his church in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, and forcibly took him in front of his wife, children, and congregation. He was located and rescued in the same township where he had been abducted.
South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, spearheaded the operation after receiving intelligence on Sullivan’s whereabouts. When the officers moved in on the suspects’ hideout, the situation escalated quickly. According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, the suspects attempted to escape in a vehicle and opened fire on the police team, triggering a high-intensity exchange of gunfire that resulted in the deaths of all three attackers.
“The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to high intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded,” Fumba stated. “The victim was found in the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.”
Sullivan’s kidnapping prompted widespread concern, both locally and internationally. His family and church community issued public appeals urging for his safe return. Jeremy Hall, a spokesperson for the family, recounted the chaos of the abduction. “They entered with guns and called him by name. It was clearly planned,” he told reporters shortly after the incident.
Sullivan had been living in South Africa since 2018, working as a missionary with a focus on Xhosa-speaking communities. His mission was part of a long-term church planting initiative aimed at supporting underserved areas through spiritual outreach and community service.
Kidnappings for ransom in South Africa have surged over the last decade, with religious workers, businesspeople, and even school children increasingly falling victim. Organized crime networks, often operating in economically vulnerable regions, are believed to be behind many of these incidents.
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