Report: German Journalist Detained in Syria Berlin daily Tagesspiegel reports that a German journalist has been detained by Syrian government forces while trying to cover the conflict in the country. The newspaper says Indonesia-based freelancer Armin Wertz first informed a friend by text message over a week ago that he was being held at a police station in the northwestern city of Aleppo. Tagesspiegel says the experienced war reporter sent a second message Sunday asking for his detention to be made public. The newspaper said it was unclear why Wertz, who has worked for Tagesspiegel in the past, was being held. Germany's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it was aware of the reported detention of a German national in Aleppo and was urgently working to resolve the situation.