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US pastor, Andrew Brunson accused of terrorism in Turkey regains freedom after two years

American pastor, Andrew Brunson who was released yesterday after being detained in Turkey for two years, has landed at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.



Brunson is expected to spend a brief time at Ramstein before flying to Washington today where he's expected to meet President Trump.



Brunson had been charged with helping to plot a coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Turkish court on Friday sentenced Brunson to three years and one month in prison, but chose to release him based on his time already served, as well as his manner during the proceedings, his lawyer said.



Prosecutors were seeking a 10-year jail term. After his release, Brunson quickly left his home in Izmir, Turkey, and headed to the airport. Two US defense officials said the US had put a military aircraft on standby from Europe to transport Brunson out of Turkey. The senior administration source said Brunson's wife flew with him.



Speaking on Friday at a rally in Ohio, President Trump said, "earlier today we secured the release of pastor Andrew Brunson." Bunson, he said, is "free from jail" and was "in the air" on his way to Germany, where he will undergo a "brief check. He's coming to Washington, DC, tomorrow and we'll say hello. He went through a lot ... and he's on his way back

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