Parents of freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston happy to have their son back

The parents of freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston said Wednesday they were overjoyed he had been released after 114 days in captivity in Gaza.

Photo: Parents of freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston happy to have their son back

A smiling Graham Johnston and his wife, Margaret, who spoke to reporters outside their Scottish home, said they had a very brief and joyful telephone conversation with their son.

"It's been 114 days of a living nightmare, and just to hear his voice. He telephoned us, there was a lot of noise in the background, and I think he was being jostled a lot," Graham Johnston told reporters outside his Scottish home.

"And all he said was, 'Hello Dad,' and I said, 'Hello son, how are you? Are you all right?' and he said, 'I'm 100 percent,' and then the phone was cut. So that's all we've had from him so far.

"We've seen him on the box, and it's just incredible. It's been a long 114 days," the father said.