Iran State TV confirmed Saturday it has arrested three Americans

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By ABC30

Sunday, August 2, 2009

We now know two of them are from California, and the third is from Pennsylvania.

This is a picture recently taken of Joshua Fattal when he was said to be in South Africa on a teaching assignment.

According to reports, Fattal along with Shane Bower and Sarah Shourd were arrested after mistakenly crossing into Iranian territory while on a hike.

Fattal's parents seen here talking to a police officer today even asked neighbors not to speak to the media, but Joshua's mother has been quoted as saying "My husband and I are only concerned with Joshua, Shane and Sarah. Their welfare is our only concern."

A friend of Joshua who asked not to be identified told Action News, quoting again "His father was born in Iraq, so he was traveling from Damascus, Syria thru the Middle East, I think to see where he came from."

One neighbor did tell Action News Joshua has not been seen much in his old neighborhood here because he loved to travel.

Kurdish officials say the three Americans were found in a mountainous area in Northern Iraq, they were apparently surrounded by troops after failing to heed warnings from Iranian guards. The threesome was then taken into custody.