they're shane bauer and josh fattal. i have shane's brother-in-law nate lindstrom on the line calling in from duluth, minnesota. nate, did you think this moment would ever come? >> pardon? >> nate, this is brooke in atlanta. can you hear me? >> yes, i can hear me. >> did you think this moment, your brother-in-law finally being freed, did you think it would ever happen? >> i knew it would happen eventually, but i just didn't know when. now that it's here, i'm so happy that it's finally going to be over. when did you find out that this moment would finally happen? days? weeks? >> i actually found out at about 4:00 a.m. this morning. my wife called me and said i think something's going to happen today, so be prepared. >> what exactly did your wife say? what had shane said? >> she said pretty much all she could say. she couldn't give me specifics. >> is she there in oman? >> she's with her family right now, yeah. >> okay. because from what i understand, both of their mothers and sarah shourd is there on the tarmac as we're a

shane bauer, josh fattal, free men this morning after two years in prison. more in 20 minutes. >> it's been confusing with president ahmadinejad saying one thing, judiciary saying something else. and the judge being on vacation during part of this time. >> he got back earlier today. they're 11-1/2 hours later. and he got back today. they got the signature and got the men out of the evan prison. they are slowly making your way to the u.s. >> couple of happy guys and happy families. we'll come back for more in a few minutes. >> other news now, if you ever left your car for a couple of moments in san francisco, then come back to find it towed there could be an app for that. board of supervisors president david chiu wants the city to come up with automated system to alert drivers via e-mail or text that the vehicle is about to be towed. users would sign up and specify boundaries covered. 160 cars are towed every day in san francisco. toeing fees and fines to -- towing fees to retrieve vehicle could top $450. >>> a reminder good people step forward when they are

where a shane bauer and josh fattal, the former u.c. berkeley students? i'm terry mcsweeney live in the newsroom. the story on the way. >> i'm amy hollyfield live in san francisco. where police are looking for two men who opened fire in the bay view in the middle of the afternoon. sent a 5-year-old girl to the hospital. >> good morning. a look from downtown san francisco. third consecutive spare the air. i'll show you where the air quality will be poor and when it will cool off. >> sue hall following wednesday morning commute. abc7 traffic center. thick fog on the golden gate bridge. hot spot is san leandro with a big rig accident. we'll get you around it in a minute. >> i'm kristen sze. >> i'm eric thomas. breaking news out of iran where two u.c. berkeley graduates are free men. shane bauer and josh fattal have been released after two years imprisoned on spying charges but there is confusion about where they are and if they have left the prison facility exactly. terry mcsweeney is on top of the story all morning long. we know the next step is get them ho

shane bauer and josh fattal. we take you to new york to hear more about this incredible journey. on the flight with fattal and bauer, todd baxter, he'll be joining us soon with details about his conversation with them on the plane. >>> in saudi arabia, a historic decision expanding women's rights. king abdullah says saudi women will be able to vote and run for office in future municipal elections, not including elections coming up this thursday. >> i've spoken to many women's rights activists in the past several hours, after this announcement was made. they are elated at the news. they say it is about time. they say it is one thing to be able to vote, but to also be able to nominate themselves as candidates in the future round of elections, even though the date for the elections hasn't been set yet, they say they're over the moon about this, this is a big step forward toward the empowerment of women in saudi arabia. they say that's something much needed in this country, a country where there is a male guardianshi

also this morning, american hikers, shane bauer and josh fattal back in the u.s. after their release from prison and they're talking about the fear they faced there every day. they're being a little bit more open about their experience now here on u.s. soil. >> getting incredible details about what they experienced the last two years. great story there. >>> later this half-hour, retro pop music bands that had limited success, let's say. national one hit wonder day on sunday. so we will put bands like ah-ha in the spotlight. this is our favorite story of the day. >> no question there. >> not at all. >>> first, fears about the global economy are dragging down stocks overseas this morning. tokyo, hong kong, lower after a terrible week on wall street. >> the global economic jitters are affecting millions of savings and retirement plans. with more on that, here is abc's david muir. >> reporter: over the last week, stocks sank more than 6%, the worst week in three years, since the height of the recession. stoking fears we're headed for another recession or that we are a

josh fattal and shane bauer contend iran saying there were captured just because they were american. >> how can we forgive the iranian government when it continues to imprison some many other innocent people. >> they share gripping details. >> we had to go on hunger strike repeatedly just to receive letters from our loved ones. many times, too many times we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten. >> they said they're kept in solitary confinement blindfolded, beaten until their families stop writing and diplomats had stopped trying to get them released. >> we have been held in almost total isolation from the world and everything we love them to survive, they kept busy with each other and reading novels and exercising. >> there were serious about their exercise and used water bottles as weights in their cells. >> during the more than two years of activity -- captivity they were allowed only 50 minutes of phone calls and one short visit from their mothers. >> it will be time to catch up with their families. shane bauer proposed to his fiancee in prison and they are celebratin

media that shane bauer and josh fattal would be freed as a humanitarian gesture. over the last week there have been some ups and downs. bail was set at $500,000 each and there were reports that somebody put up the money. why they would put up the money is unclear. it's just away for them to ease tensions between iran and u.s. and would also ease tensions. either way the money was posted and there was a delay with the signatures. two were needed and one judge was on vacation until yesterday. overnight the attorneys said he had gotten all the necessary signatures from the judiciary officials and hoped they would be free today. at this point they are waiting, where they will go upon release is unclear. we are watching things carefully in tehran and we will keep you updated. news news. >>> >>> a woman who worked at the bakery, they found her body inside a bathroom last night. they looked into reports of an argument between a man and woman outside earlier in the evening but they found nothing suspicious. >>> they searched for the gunman who wounded a five-year- old gir

theres was bail set of $5,000 each for shane bauer and josh fattal.he iran says the two americans shane bauer and josh fattal are spies, tried and convicted but the men's families say they're simply hikers who took a wrong turn, and now iran's president, perhaps hoping to good publicity in america says that the two will be freed. thieve illegally crossed our borders. we tried last year to free one of the three persons, and we are also trying to make arrangements for their freedom, for the freedom of the other two. i think these two will be freed in a couple of days. >> in a couple of days? >> yes, in a couple of days. >> they will be freed. >> shane bauer, josh fattal and their traveling companion went hiking in july 2009 in kurdistan. their families say if they crossed the unmarked border into iran, they did so entirely by accident. the three were detained by iranian officials and charged with illegal entry and espionage. a year ago, sarah shores was released on compassionate grounds. she remained outside the country while her companions were tried inside iran. now the case against all

embassy here, came out and delivered the good news that josh fattal and shane bauer, after two years of hope and heartbreak for themselves and their families were on their way out of iran. >> two years in prison is too long. and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: what this ordeal and this case has highlighted, though, are deep rifts between the ruling elite, something president ahmadinejad wanted to avoid before addressing the u.n. general assembly this week. ali aruzi, nbc news, tehran. >>> back here at home, the diplomat standoff continues at the annual meeting of the united nations general assembly. palestinian president mahmoud abbas remains determined to take his bid for statehood to the u.n. despite pressure from the u.s. for abbas to instead resume peace talks with israel. nbc's tracie potts joins with us more from washington. tracie, good morning. >> reporter: lynn, good morning. president obama and the u.s. seem determined to convince him that the united nations is not the plac

josh fattal and shane bauer embraced loved ones yesterday. they were found guilty of spying after they crossed into iran while hiking in iraq but a judge granted their release after oman paid a million dollars. coming up at 6:15, we'll have a live report on what is next for those two released hikers. >>> the release comes as iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad speaks at the united nations general assembly today. he is expected to talk about global management and a reform of the united nations. now, president obama addressed the assembly yesterday saying now is not the time to grant palestine's request for statehood. the president says an independent palestine need to emerge from peace negotiations with israel. >>> the names of two fallen firefighters are going to be added to a san francisco memorial today. lieutenant vince perez and firefighter paramedic tony valerio were killed while fighting a house fire that june. their funeral was the largest in san francisco in six decades. their names will be displayed at the line of duty memorial wal

shane bauer and josh fattal deny any wrongdoing. >>> a diplomatic campaign is underway in new york. palestinians are trying to regain full membership. mahmoud ahmadinejad is leading the charge and today he will meet with french president nicolas sarkozy to try and gather support, however united states is promising to veto membership until they resume peace talks with israel. >> the effort itself will be counterproductive to the goal which is turn to direct negotiations between the two parties. >> mahmoud ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak before the un general assembly and plans on submitting a formal letter asking for membership. >>> president barack obama will meet with the libyan transition council and he will out to the early -- tout the early success of the the mission to remove muammar gaddafi. >>> last year's deadly pipeline explosion, the milestone in the rebuilding process will be marked this morning with a ceremonial shovel of dirt by the mayor and other city officials. eight people were killed and dozens more injured on that explosion and 38 homes were destroyed. >>> the o

shane bauer will spend a few days more in oman to recuperate. secretary of state hillary clinton says she is among those looking forward to greeting them when they return to the u.s. >> gas leak near san francisco union square is under investigation. yesterday, the crew working for the utility commission hit unmarked line. two hotel guests there were ordered to shelter in place. two other buildings were evacuated. utility said construction was supposed to start today and the contractor was a day early. >> this afternoon. two san francisco firefighters who died on the job will get a special memorial and hold a line of duty death memorial wall dedication ceremony to honor lieutenant vincent perez and firefighter paramedic anthony valerio. the names will be enscribed on the marble wall at the headquarters. they died after fighting a house fire in the dimond height neighborhood in june. they were the first to rush in the house. >>> the man charged in a san jose crime spree is expected to return to court in two weeks to enter a plea. emotional paul c

shane bauer and josh fattal are finally free. we obtained this exclusive footage of the pair. the iranians wanted to show that they were treated well in detention. they were detained with another american more than two years ago in the on march region between iran and iraq. the iranians accused them of spying but the americans said they were simply hiking. one was released last year on grounds of ill health. she said that none of them could have been supplies. >> we had no equipment on us. we had no intention to come into iran and we are no threat. >> the families were allowed to meet shane bauer and josh fattal last year. >> iran's president said this before the release. >> we did not make this decision under pressure. this is a humanitarian decision. >> this has only deepened the mistrust between iran and washington. iran says that their nuclear program is peaceful. western countries suspect iran of wanting to make a nuclear bomb. there has been problems with relations since the 1979 revolution. tehran and said they did it for better relations. >> they want to be a part of t

as rob ross reports, this comes as bail was set for josh fattal and shane bauer, who they say will be freed in days. >> reporter: here where shane bauer worked as a journalist, a year before his arrest, there is hope, real hope. >> shane bauer's mother e- mailed me that this is the real thing, this is real. >> reporter: the iranian governor arrested bauer, josh fattal and their friend, sarah shourd, on charges of spying and crossing the iranian border, sarah shourd was released last year, but it was predicted that bauer and josh fattal could be freed in a couple of days, this coming after an iranian court set the bail at half a million each for the men. this comes after more information on the details that they could be released. we hope to say more, the family said, when they're back in our arms. >> i think it is the most horrible thing that could happen for them. >> reporter: students on campus hope that the ordeal will end soon. >> it is really scary knowing that students from my college are actually, you know scared for their lives right now in another country. and i am just happy

berkeley students shane bauer and josh fattal were free to leave. they had been held as spies in iran, sentenced to eight years in prison. along with sarah shourd, who was freed last year. their families said all along they were hiking in 2009 when they may have accidentally crossed the border. former professors have told us this morning it's been a roller coaster ride. >> i've already gotten a number of text messages from students who were in the same class with shane and just very, very happy. so, we had a small class of about seven students that worked on a magazine at the journalist school. we all have been watching and praying. >> i think it's a good policy move for iran, though. they've really been stagnating in terms of press and last thing people think of when they think of iran is political fairness. >> reporter: both the men's families are overseas waiting for them. so is sarah shourd. just a short time ago, u.c. berkeley released a statement to the public affairs department, saying in part, they are certainly relieved and thankful at the

shane bauer and josh fattal describes this as the best day in their lives. they are enjoying a reunion in gnomon. -- in oman. >> the joy of freedom. the relieved u.s. hiker's raced into the arms of their waiting family. this is the day they have all been waiting for. they are finally free. close your happy we are free -- >> we are happy that we are free. we thanked the king of all montfort obtaining our relief. -- we thanked the king of oman for obtaining our release. >> we sincerely hope for a freedom for those who are unjustly imprisoned in america and around the world. >> they were arrested along with a third american, sarah shourd, , in the region between iran and iraq. the iranians accused the trio of spying. the americans said they were simply hiking in northern iraq. sarah shourd was released last year on grounds of field house. -- of ill health. >> it is clear that we had no intention to come to iran. we were no threat. "the families were allowed to meet shane bauer and josh fattal briefly last year turned to relatives are calling this the best day o

meanwhile, shane bauer officially engaged to fellow hiker sara shourd. you see him putting the ring on her finger right there. josh fattal, who was freed with him on wednesday, is going to be the best man. sarah and him agreed to wed while they were in prison. >> >> at night time it gets busy here. >> he's the pastor at true vine ministries in oakland. it's a place tame during the day but dramatically changes at night with drug deals, prostitution and even murder.

. >>> after spending more than two years locked up in iran, hikers shane bauer and joshua fattal are finally free. yesterday they were released from prison and into the arms of loved ones. nbc news tehran's bureau chief has more from iran. >> reporter: after over 780 days in tehran's notorious prison, shane bauer and joshua fattal finally get to taste freedom. during fast-moving events, their iranian lawyer was summoned to the judiciary to come and finalize their $1 million bail arrangements. once that had been done, swiss delegates rushed to the prison to see how long it would take to get them out. the swiss ambassador who deals with american interests in iran because there is no u.s. embassy here came out and delivered the good news that shane bauer and joshua fattal, after two years of hope and heartbreak for themselves and their families, were on their way out of iran. >> two years in prison is too long. and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: what this ordeal and this case has highl

. >> reporter: shane bauer worked as a contributing reporter here at new american media. others can't wait to welcome them. their friends are certain their lock-up won't chill their passion for the middle east or their passion for journalism. >> i fully expect them to go back out on the road after making sure his family gets time and his friends get time to spend with him. >> reporter: no word at this point when bauer, josh fattal and sarah shourd will return. >> and president obama reacted to the hikers' release at the u.n. >> wonderful news, we are thrilled. and i -- i know their families feel better, the moms who we have been in close contact with. it is a wonderful day. thank you. >> the release came just moments before president obama was to address the general assembly. now senator boxer had this to say about the release, "it is so wonderful that shane and josh are coming home to be with their loved ones but i deeply regret their release took so long. they paid too great a price by the iranian government' there was work to publicly release them. >>> and finally, fre

until josh fattal and shane bauer bounded down the steps into their arms. smiles, tears and a long kiss between shane and sarah shourd, his fiancee and fellow prisoner until one year ago this week. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. >> two years in prison is too long. >> reporter: too long for the families as well. >> and he lasted 781 days. we couldn't be more proud. >> and you lasted 781 days. >> and so did shane. >> reporter: 781 days in iran's most notorious prison, one month on hunger strike, protesting their detention. a total of just 15 minutes in phone calls home. and just one face-to-face visit in iran. $1 million in bail. as their detention dragged on, their families' patience and strength wore thin. >> there must be moments when you just feel that resolve or the energy weakening. >> i don't ever feel resolve. that's never. but there are days. i don't sleep. i don't sleep at night. >> reporter: jim sciutto, abc news. >> you could feel the love in that image, can you not? those guys getting off the plane, incredible. >> so

shane bauer and josh fattal have been released. claudine wong joins us live from uc berkeley with all of the developments this morning and where the two men are expected to be headed. good morning, claudine. >> reporter: good morning, tori. certainly we've been watching everything coming out of iran. we've been waiting for this confirmation that they've actually left the grounds of the prison because we've known since early this morning that there were a couple of cars with swiss diplomats there. they pulled up to the gates. they had not left yet. but they have now left. this all started overnight as word came from the attorney for these two men that all of the necessary signatures were in hand, then diplomatic vehicles were arriving at about 3:30 our time to the prison and then about 4:45 this morning. there was a -- about 4:45 this morning, there was word that the two men were freed after spending two years in that prison. details are still coming in about about how this happened. >> i'm sure there are so many things that we don'

shane bauer and josh fattal are back with their families, enjoying their first full day of freedom. the american hikers jumped into the arms of their loved ones in oman wednesday. they were released on $1 million bail after spending more than two years in an iranian prison. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. >> reporter: iranian authorities arrested fattal, bauer, and their friend sarah shroud on spying and tres passing charges while they were hiking on the iraq/iran border in july of 2009. shroud released last december. while in prison, bauer proposed to her and while apart, the two finally embraced on the tarmac. >> two years in prison is too long and we sincerely hope for the freedom of on this injustly prisoned people in america and in iran. >> reporter: it came before president obama addressed the united nations. iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad gives he's speech today. president obama says he is thrilled with the news. he, like the rest of his administration, believes the hikers should not have been held in the first place. >> they have a chance n

however witnesses waiting outside say shane bauer and josh fattal have not left the prison compound yet. >>> city of san jose facing a grim outlook for next year's budget, a report shows they may have to close all branch libraries and community centers and layoff crossing guards and park rangers with a potential $115 million deficit, city may also have to raise taxes or rework some of the city pensions. >>> trade in new york -- today in new york president barack obama will try to convince mahmoud ahmadinejad not to ask the security council for statehood. they are asking them to return to peace nobody nations with -- negotiations with israelis. >>> they helped to open a factory in fremont which is now in danger. the loan came under the scrutiny of house republicans under the new information found with solyndra. they are looking to take away any remaining funds and help transfer for damage caused by hurricane irene. top expect tis from -- executives are being called to testify about a half billion dollar federal loan to the now bankrupt company but lawyers say they plan to invoke 5th amen

hikers josh fattal and shane bauer have been freed. now, we were told a few minutes ago from our producer in iran that omani government officials were seen entering the prison a short while ago. we know they have been freed, we don't know where they're going next, but a lot of speculation their first stop, once they leave iran. last year when the hiker sarah shourd was released her first stop out of tehran was here. the reason for that being that the omanis had paid her bail. a lot of speculation that they had been intricately released. no confirmation on that yet, but officials were seen going into the prison and we do know that those two hikers have been freed. >> mohammed, about the conditions of their release. it's a bail under which they may be called back for trial. i can't imagine they're ever going to go back to iran, is that actually part of the condition of their release? >> we don't yet know all the conditions of the release. we know the bail has been posted, that's according to the lawyer and according to two judges that si

a lawyer for josh fattal an shane bauer says he's hopeful the release will happen today. the pair was detained in 2009 after apparently straying across the iraqi border into iran. an iranian court convicted them of spying. they insist they are innocent. >>> do you have a boomerang kid at home? that's one who has moved back -- moved out but has come back to live at home. after you said your good-byes, now what? at 2:00 eastern time we'll give you rules to live by with your adult kids. our financial expert karen lee will be along.

if shane bauer and john fetterman are released it will -- and josh fattal are released it will cost them. their families are trying to come up with the money to secure their release. the two men have been in prison for the last two years and just last month, it appears they faced a set back after an iranian court sentenced them to illegal crossing. they had accused them of spying for the u.s. after the three of them crossed the border on a hike in 2009. they had crossed over accidentally and had maintained their innocence since then. shaw shaw was released on humanitarian grounds and her release also came with a price tag. the court ordered her to pay 500,000 before she was released and it appears they be -- they may be part of a similar agreement. their families are not ready to issue any comments on the possible release just yet and two hikers have been initially cleared by the iranian court but if they can come up with a million dollars they could be freed on thursday. >>> time now 6:05, well the so- called congressional committee will meet again this morning. they only have until nov

shane bauer was reunited with his fiance shaw shaw who was release -- sarah shaw who was released last year. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. our deepest gratitude goes towards his majesty for obtaining our release. >> now the government paid $500,000 each as it did for sarah shaw last year. now the release of shane bauer and josh fattal comes before mahmoud ahmadinejad's address at united nations today. that is scheduled for 9:00 this morning and many believe the release of the two men is an effort to give iran a better i am man. >>> -- image. >>> a stinging loss at the end of a government shut -- at a possible government shut down at the end of next week. how republicans voted no on that measure. now we are hearing from former employees of solyndra. we are hearing about the soller energy company and they tell the washington post from the beginning they saw questionable spending. they found they spent money on expensive buildings and did little to improve the product. tomorrow we will find out whether politics influenced the half billion dollar loan to solyn

shane bauer and joshua fattal are finally free. >> we are so happy and relieved we are free. our deepest gratitude goes toward his majesty of oman for obtaining our release. we are sincerely grateful to the government of oman for hosting us and our family. >> two years in prison is too long. we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners in america and iran. thank you very much. >> they were arrested with a third american, sarah shourd, in a remote region which is the unmarked border between iran and iraq. the americans were accused as spies. they said they were simply hiking in northern iraq. sarah shourd was released last year on grounds of ill health. she told the bbc she and her friends could not have been spies. >> none of us spoke farsi. we had no equipment. it was clear we had no intention to come to iran and were no threat. >> the families were allowed to meet briefly last year. relatives are calling today the best day of their lives, saying their relief and joy knows no bounds. ahmadinejad is in new york for the un general assembly. he said this hours

today the court ordered shane bauer and josh fattal to pay $500,000 each. that was the same amount paid by their friend sarah shourd. the family said it's a quote huge relief to read that they are going to be released. we hope to say more when they were finally more in our arms. >>> the transportation secretary came to see the work at the new oakland control tower everyone though the funding drags on -- even though the funding drags on. tom vacar looks at what is to come. >> reporter: if the senate doesn't act by friday, the faa's money runs dry again stopping this. the aviation project cold again. >> american jobs building american infrastructure. >> reporter: if the faa fails to act, the project would be stopped just like last month. >> millions of the dollars were wasted through that inaction. >> reporter: many of those who were idle work right here. >> in the construction industry, you don't get paid if you don't work. there's no paid vacation, there's no paid leave of absence. >> there isn't another job to send us to, we just get sent home. >> and >> r

among those waiting on the tarmac, sarah shourd, shane bauer's fiancee. she was arrested with them 26 months ago but she got released early for medical reasons. >>> the islamic cultural center has created a lot of controversy because of its location near ground zero in new york. it is now open. the first section of the center called park 51 opened its doors this afternoon with a photography exhibit. the exhibit centers on children from around the world who now live in new york. founders of the project say the exhibits promotes coexistence and cooperation among religions. opponents feel the islamic center is too close to ground zero. they call it insensitive. >>> a programming note to tell you about. a blue angels fleet week special right here on kron4 on saturday october the 8th. we will be airing a one-hour special at 3:00 p.m. tune into the best view of the blue angels as they fly over the bay area. again, that's saturday, october 8th here on kron4. we'll be right back. it feels like help is never far away. it feels like you're protected against life's

cnn is reporting that the uc- berkeley alumni josh fattal and shane bauer have been released from an iranian prison but cbs source on the ground are telling us that the two are still in custody because they are filling out paperwork. this morning, their attorney said that iranian courts have approved a million-dollar bail- for-freedom deal. >>> a shootout in san francisco's bayview district has injured a 5-year-old girl. she is recovering from gunshot wound this morning. officers are still searching for two suspects. >>> and pg&e will be purging gas from a pipeline in san mateo county starting at 7 a.m. it's part of an ongoing series of pipeline tests in the wake of last year's deadly explosion in san bruno. >>> attorneys in georgia plan to file a last-minute appeal to halt the execution of a convicted killer who reignited the death penalty debate. troy davis is scheduled for lethal injection this evening. the state's pardons board rejected clemency for him yesterday. he was convicted of killing an off-duty police officer. his attorney says it was based on flawed recanted testimony.

my first priority is to help my fiance shane bauer and my friend josh fattal to regain their freedom. >> reporter: now sarah, along with the young men's mothers, who worked hard to make sure the world would not forget their sons. >> iran needs to stop playing games with shane and josh. >> reporter: appear about to have a heartfelt wish come true. the question tonight -- how soon before these two young american hikers are home again? and after more than two years in prison in iran, how are they holding up? brian? >> ann, thanks. ann curry reporting again tonight from tehran. >>> in washington, an effort to investigate an effort by the obama administration to create green jobs. this one went bad. a solar energy company championed by the president himself received half a billion dollars in government loans, and then it went bankrupt last month. today, republicans were looking for answers here. the story from our senior investigative correspondent lisa myers. >> reporter: the president visited the company solyndra last year, hailing it as a stimulus success story. >> the true engine of ec

these are the families waiting as shane bauer on the left and joshua fattal bounded into freedom. they landed in the persian gulf country of oman. president obama said today, "we're thrilled. they shouldn't have been held in the first place." seth doane has our story, beginning with that remarkable reunion. ( cheers ) >> reporter: dashing from the plane and right into the arms of waiting family, shane bauer and josh fattal finally tasted freedom. ( cheers ) bauer fell into sarah shourd's embrace. shourd had been hiking with the two men in july 2009. bauer and shroud got engaged while in prison. the two men then briefly spoke to the media gather on the tarmac in muscat, oman. >> we are so happy we are free and relieved we are free. >> two years in prison is too long and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: the two were held as political prisoners in iran for 26 months. during that time, family members were allowed just one visit and three phone calls. >> our deepest gratitude goes towar

josh fattal and shane bauer rushed to the arms of loved one yesterday. first taste of freedom for 29-year-olds after spending two years as prisoners in iran. the government flew them out of iran and paid their $1 million bail. >> two year is too long. >> he last 781 days. >> also on hand was sarah shourd who was freed last year. she and bauer were engaged in prison. bauer and fattal will spend a few days in iran to recuperate. secretary of state hillary clinton says she is among those looking forward to greeting them when they come back to the u.s. >> this afternoon two san francisco firefighters died on the job will get a special memorial. department will hold a line of duty death memorial wall dedication ceremony. to honor the two. the name will be enscribed on the wall. they died after fighting a house fire in diamond heights neighborhood in june. they were the first to rush in a burning house. >> the man charged in a deadly crime spree is expected to return to court in two weeks to enter a plea. emotional paul castillo was arraigned on murder, kidnap

shane bauer and josh fattal reflected on their release two years after they were taken into custody. and nbc's francis coe reports. >> reporter: americans shane bauer and josh fattal spoke out on their third day of freedom. the two gave a brief press conference in oman, the country which paid their $1 million bail leading to their release. >> it was the most incredible experience of our lives. we will never forget the excitement of seeing our loved ones waiting for us at the foot of the plane. the joy of embracing them all after so long will stay with us forever. >> reporter: they were moments treasured after the men spent two years in a prison with charges of espionage and illegally crossing a border. after delays and disappointment, wednesday was the milestone moment reflected upon by fattal and bauer in their prepared statements today. >> just hours after we left prison, we were able to swim in the calm waters of the gulf. we stayed up all night with our loved ones and we watched the most beautiful sunset we've ever seen. these experiences will be with us for the rest of our lives

the lawyer for jailed american hikers josh fattal and shane bauer say he's hopeful the pair will be free today. the men are let go, they will likely be flown to oman. why is the hikers lawyer so confident that they are going to be released this weekend? >> reporter: we've spoken with the lawyer for the hikers several times. reason he's optimistic he found out that basically what's remaining to be done is the signature of one more judge before the hikers can be released. the lawyer walked us through a very complicated process that needs to take place. essentially one of the judges in the case has signed documents stating that bail has been paid. according to the lawyer. there's still one more judge who needs to sign the document stating that bail has been posted. once that happens the lawyer can witness that document and he can take it to another government agency and at that point he says hopefully the hikers can be released. now up until the past hour when we've been speaking to the lawyer, he's expressing optimism they could be released today. we don't have anything definitive. omani o

they have confirmed shane bauer and josh fattal have been released. joining us live she is in berkeley to tell us all that has been happening overnight, here is more. >> reporter: two cars filled with the diplomats are approaching the gates in tehran. we are still not sure if shane bauer and josh fattal are in those cars now that they have been officially released, we are assuming they are very close to leaving those grounds. now word came overnight that they -- that all the paperwork that was necessary to get them out was in hand. they were seen arriving 3:30 our time and at 4:45 we go the word multiple sources confirming they were officially free. we did get reaction from one berkeley student who was relieved to hear the news. >> with wow, i am really glad they made it, that is a long time to be there. >> reporter: it has been more than two years and may be our best indication of what comes next comes from sarah shaw. she was also released on the same amount of bail and the first thing she did was to publicly thank him and others key to her release.

one friend has known shane bauer and sarah shourd for years, and said he learned of the release from share in a late night phone message. >> i got a call from sarah, it was unknown, i didn't pick up. i checked the voice mail. it was sarah saying it was really happening . >> reporter: he knows what they want to do. >> i want to go on a hike with them. i mean after two years in confinement. they want to get outside, go for a hike in the east bay hills. >> reporter: no word on when the released hikers will be back here in the u.s. live, channel 2 action news. >>> and today's release was a long time coming for the uc graduates, shane bauer, josh fattal and sarah shourd were all arrested on july 31 when they were hiking along the border there. their mothers went for a brief two-day visit. but that was the last time bauer and josh fattal saw their family in prison. then, sarah shourd was released on humanitarian grounds due to health problems. right now on ktvu you can watch the raw video on the reunion with the families in oman. just click on the hikers tab. >>> and the man cried today as

very long and coming reunion between sarah showered and shane bauer. they got engaged when both detained in prison. you saw shane bauer giving a flower to sarah shourd as they were embracing and kissing. very, very emotional moment. as far as what's next for josh and shane, american officials aren't commenting today. we know that they were handed over to american embassy officials last night along with their families. we heard from other officials here that possibly they are getting medical checkups done today. then spending time with their families and omani officials told us they believe their families will be here at least 24 hours. we are waiting to find out officially how long they will be here and when they will leave and begin their journey back to the zbluchlt thank you so much. >>> world markets are falling sharply. financials taking a big beating after the fed said the u.s. economy is facing significant downside risks. this is when it announced another stimulus measure yesterday to boost the economy. take a look at the market reaction. hong k

to shane bauer, touched down at jfk airport. now the pictures you're seeing there are when they were released from iran about four days ago and came to oman. what we know now is that they have arrived at jfk here in new york. there are no pictures of this at the moment because of security concerns. we expect at some point to have pictures, at least of that flight over -- cnn did have a photographer on board. right now we want to go to jfk, we're standing by as susan candiotti -- can you tell what reception they're going to have, or is this all being done privately? >> reporter: we can tell you, you alluded it, one of our employees on the flight. he told us that josh fattal, had a big grin right after the pland la plane landed. and the family members -- they moved to the front so they would be the first ones off. they were to have a brief family reunion with other relative to meet them at the airport. we were to get a picture of them walking out. because of security concerns, as you indicated, that's not happening. however, they

shane bauer was reunited with his fiance released from the same iranian prison last year. >> being in prison too long we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in iran. >> we are deeply grateful for his majesty for obtaining our release. >> the governor paid 500,000 each as it did last year for sarah shaw. >>> and for mahmoud ahmadinejad he begins to address the united nations and many believe the release of the two men is an effort to improve iran's image. >>> drug agents are investigating high grade marijuana shipment that ended up at the kentucky home of two pro-football players. cincinnati bangles teammates anthony collins and jerome system some were both at home when two pounds of potent pot came. they have been tracking it, police have questioned both players but so far there have been no arrests. >>> they are tied to one of the biggest busts and this week authorities found 7,000 plants in west marin. now the sheriff's department took photos shortly after. there were huge marijuana plants worth millions of dollars. they w

shane bauer and joshua fattal were handed over to a convoy of swiss diplomats this morning, capping a dramatic standoff between washington and tehran. we have more from our tehran bureau chief, watching this for two years now. ali, first of all, the bail. there were conditions set, $1 million in bail paid to iran. >> reporter: that's right, andrea. a million dollars in bail. their first case they were convicted. the lawyer told me the reason there was bail set was because they appealed the conviction, so it had gone to an appeals court, and the bail wasn't without confusion. the lawyer was ferrying back and forth from the courthouse over a period of four days trying to get a signature of a second judge who wouldn't show up for work because they kept saying he was on holiday. the lawyer got the call today finalize the bail, and everything started to move quickly from there. andr andrea? >> ali, this is the same scenario that a year ago you and i were in tehran and sara shourd got out and bail was paid, and the flight to oman. this is oman brokering this. do we know who put up the money

but shane bauer, josh fattal free again this morning, released minutes ago. live in the newsroom, terry mcsweeney, abc7 news. >> all the happening right now, of course nobody has seen the two men yet. the minute we do we'll let you know. san francisco police are looking for the gunman that fired a stray bullet that hit a 5-year-old girl on her way home from school prompting outrage in the troubled bayview district. amy hollyfield is live at san francisco general hospital. how is the little girl? >> she is recovering okay. in stable condition. they think she does not have life threatening injuries but police are looking for the men who fired yesterday afternoon. she was walking home from school. it was 4:30 at third and palou in the bayview. she was with her father. who says he heard the gunfire but it wasn't until his daughter fell to the ground that he realized she had been hit. >> i came out and look at the street. i seen everybody running, the girl on the ground. i seen her father pick her up. he was distraught and upset. >> she is stabilize, doing well. s

josh fattal and shane bauer. they were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country two years ago. and now we are being told that $1 million in bail has been submitted. $500,000 each. so, these two can walk free. and our cnn producer shirzad is right there outside of iran's most notorious prison where they have been held. as soon as you see them, we'll keep you up live, keep connections with you. zain verjee, i know we were going to talk about a totally different story with you out of london, but i would like to get you to weigh in on this because you have been talking about this since yesterday when we got word they were going to walk free. what do you know about this prison and how this might unfold? you heard shirzad is there waiting for them and then the question is, where will they go next? our sources telling us, possibly oman. >> evin prison is one of the most notorious prisons in iran. as what could happen next, they're likely to go to a third country. reports that they would go to muscat in ome

until josh fattal and shane bauer bounded down the steps into their arms. smiles, tears, and a long kiss between shane and sarah shore, his fiancee and fellow prisoner until one year ago this week. >> we are so happen be we are free and so relieved we are free. two years in prison is too long. >> too long for the families as well. >> he lasted 781 days. couldn't be prouder. >> and you lasted 781 days. >> 781 days in iran's most notorious prison. one month on hunger strike protesting their detention. and just one face to face visit in iran. one million dollars in bail. as the detention dragged on the families' patience and strength wore thin. >> there must be moments when you feel that resolve or the energy weakening. >> i don't ever feel resolve, that is never. there are days i don't sleep. i don't sleep at night. >> president obama following the situation very closely and calling back to reporters at the u.n. in new york today he said that the release is wonderful news. >> we are thrilled. a wonderful day. >>> and, of course, for the friends of two -- of t

josh fattal and shane bauer stayed in seclusion with their families in the persian gulf state of oman. that was just hours after iran released them on $1 million bail. meanwhile, friends and neighbors back in the u.s. are anxiously awaiting their return. >> got a lump. my wife started to cry. >> i can't wait to see them. i'm going to hug them myself, you know? >> fattal and bauer were arrested along with sarah shourd in iran while hiking along the iraq-iran border. they were accused of spying. shourd was released after a year. it's not clear when josh fattal and shane bauer will return to the u.s. >>> dozens of protestors have taken over a hall on the uc- berkeley campus after marching across campus. the protest began at noon over the proposed tuition hikes and budget cuts for the uc system. tuition could rise as much as 16% per year for four years. police say there have been one confrontation with the university police officer involving pepper spray. >>> it's being called the biggest nursing strike in northern california history. [ chanting ] [ singing ] >> as many as 23,000 register

josh fattal and shane bauer released five days ago, flew to new york yesterday. they say the only reason they were detained is because they are americans. drew levinson reports. >> reporter: josh fattal and shane bauer are back on u.s. soil and revealing what two years inside an iranian prison was like. >> many times, too many times, we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten and there was nothing we could do to help them. >> reporter: also at the new york press conference, sarah shourd. the three friends were hiking along the iraq/iran border in 2009 when iranian authorities arrested them. while in prison, bauer and shourd were engaged. she was let go last year. but bauer and fattal were found and, in august, convicted of being spies. >> we were convicted of espionage because we are american. it's that simple. no evidence was ever presented against us. >> reporter: the two men were sentenced to eight years in prison. it's not clear why they were released. but iran's foreign ministry calls it a gesture of islamic mercy. they were first reunited with the

just one more signature is left, that's all they needed to free shane shane bauer and josh fattal. the judge required to sign the papers completing the bail proceedings was scheduled to return from a trip but never appeared in court. so josh fattal and shane bauer will make a combined million dollars payment after being jailed for two years hopefully when the judge gets back. >>> a death row inmate in georgia has lost his final appeal for clemency. >> troy davis was found guilty of killing a savannah police officer in 1991. since then, seven of the nine witnesses who testified against him have recanted their statements. the final appeal to the georgia board of pardons and parolees, davis' family says there was too much doubt surrounding his case but the victim's family never doubted davis' guilt. >> for someone to ludicrously say that he is a victim -- we are victims. look at us. we have put one this stuff for 22 years. and it's time for justice. >> davis is scheduled to die tomorrow by lethal injection. >>> up next, zagat is out with its latest restaurant ratings. which bay area e

a lawyer for josh fattal and shane bauer says he's very hopeful that the men might be released today. bail has been posted for each of them. the defense attorney says a judge needs to now sign the bail documents before the procedure can begin. fattal and bauer were arrested after straying over the iranian border. they insist they were just hiking. >> let's turn to libya now. anti-gadhafi forces were ousting a new offensive. at least 100 cars rolled into syrite today. seven of the fighters were killed. 31 others wounded and the military base was seized in yesterday's fighting. the opposition thinks one of moammar gadhafi's sons may have been coordinating the resistance. >>> with a scheduled execution date just days away, calls are growing for the state of georgia to glant clemency to a convicted cop killer. hundreds of people you're seeing here and hearing, it turned out in atlanta yesterday in a rally to support troy davis. he was convicted of killing mark mcfail back in 1989. supporters say his conviction was based on flimsy evidence and some witnesses have recanted or their testimon

iran's president said a few days ago he expects josh fattal and shane bauer to be released. they were arrested two years ago on spy charges. >>> three people are hurt in india after a bomb went off at this private hospital. it happened in the heavily visited area of agra where the taj mahal is located. the bomb went off in the reception area blowing out the windows. last weekend a briefcase bomb killed 11 people in new delhi. former senator charles percy is dead. the republican served in the senate for nearly 20 years and eventually became the chairman of the powerful foreign relations committee. in recent years he was battling alzheimer's disease. he died today at the washington, d.c. hospice. he was 91 years old. >>> federal investigators are on the scene of a deadly plane crash at a reno, nevada, air show. they are trying to determine what caused the vintage p-51 mustang to lose control and slam into the ground, killing its veteran pilot and six others. dozens of people were injured. our dan simon is in reno. what are you learning about this crash, dan? >> reporter: well,