An activist group and a local leader say the Islamic State group has released 19 Christians who were among the more than 220 people the militants took captive in northeastern Syria last week.

Bashir Saedi, a senior official in the Assyrian Democratic Organization, says the 16 men and three women arrived safely Sunday and were now at a church in the city of Hassakeh. He says they are all around 50 years of age or older.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activist group also reported that 19 Christians had been freed, but put the number at 17 men and two women.