Stendal was released by the rebels after five months and has continued his missionary work around the South American nation since then, including trips into rebel-controlled areas.
But his activities appear to have run afoul of Colombian authorities, who announced Thursday that they had arrested Stendal, accusing him of supporting the FARC. Police alleged that he was posing as a missionary.
‘Somebody set a trap for me’
A video posted online appeared to show Stendal speaking after his arrest.
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The FARC, which started as an insurgency in 1964, has taken part in peace negotiations with the government in an effort to end more than half a century of fighting.
Talks have stalled several times over the years, and the group has been accused of bombings, murder, extortion and kidnappings.
CNN’s Catherine E. Shoichet, Rafael Romo, Annie Rose Ramos, Marilia Brocchetto and Carloo Perez contributed to this report.
