foreign hostages in philippines appear in video
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Foreign hostages in Philippines appear in video

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Foreign hostages in Philippines appear in video

The gunmen uploaded the video on YouTube
Manila - AFP

Three foreign men and a Filipina kidnapped last month in the southern Philippines have appeared in a video posted online, making demands for the Islamic militants who abducted them.

Gunmen raided a luxury marina near the major southern city of Davao on September 21, abducting the Norwegian owner of the resort, two Canadian tourists and one of their girlfriends.

No group immediately claimed responsibility but the video uploaded on YouTube on Monday appeared to confirm it was the Abu Sayyaf, which has a long history of kidnappings-for-ransom in the southern Philippines.

In the video, the three foreigners appealed for Philippine authorities to halt military assaults against the gunmen.

The hostages were sitting on the ground, surrounded by at least eight men holding high-powered machine guns. One man also holds a large knife.

After the three foreigners spoke, one of the gunmen, with a scarf and sunglasses completely covering his face, spoke in English, repeating his demand for military operations to stop against "us".

Three foreign men and a Filipina kidnapped last month in the southern Philippines have appeared in a video posted online, making demands for the Islamic militants who abducted them.

Gunmen raided a luxury marina near the major southern city of Davao on September 21, abducting the Norwegian owner of the resort, two Canadian tourists and one of their girlfriends.

No group immediately claimed responsibility but the video uploaded on YouTube on Monday appeared to confirm it was the Abu Sayyaf, which has a long history of kidnappings-for-ransom in the southern Philippines.

In the video, the three foreigners appealed for Philippine authorities to halt military assaults against the gunmen.

The hostages were sitting on the ground, surrounded by at least eight men holding high-powered machine guns. One man also holds a large knife.

After the three foreigners spoke, one of the gunmen, with a scarf and sunglasses completely covering his face, spoke in English, repeating his demand for military operations to stop against "us".

He said once the military operations stopped, the kidnappers would be prepared to start negotiations for the hostages' freedom.

In all other Abu Sayyaf kidnappings of foreigners, the group has demanded and often received large sums of money for the release of its captives.

The Canadians abducted were John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, and the Norwegian resort owner was Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56.

Hall's girlfriend, Marites Flor, was also abducted. She did not speak in the video.

Philippine authorities had previously said they did not know if the Abu Sayyaf was behind the abductions, nor where the hostages were being held.

This was despite security analysts saying it was almost certain the Abu Sayyaf was responsible, and that the victims were being held on Jolo island, the group's stronghold about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) south of Manila.

In the video, Ridsdel referred specifically to nearby artillery fire and to overhead flights.

When asked to comment on the demands, the regional military spokesman for the area, Captain Antonio Bulao, told AFP troops had conducted an assault that included artillery fire against an Abu Sayyaf leader on Jolo on October 8.

Bulao, spokesman for the Western Mindanao command, said the assault was aimed at Radullan Sahiron, who is on the US government's list of most wanted "terrorists".

Sahiron was involved in the kidnappings of three Americans in 2001 from a resort in the southwestern Philippines, according to a US government website, which offers a $1 million reward for bringing him to justice.

One of the Americans was beheaded.

Bulao said Sahiron was believed to be currently holding a Dutch birdwatcher kidnapped from a southern Philippine island in 2012, as well as two unnamed Filipinos.

The Abu Sayyaf is holding three other foreigners, a Korean and two Malaysians, military officials told AFP earlier.

An Abu Sayyaf leader appeared online last year pledging allegiance to Islamic State.

But Philippine authorities and security analysts say the group has little religious ideology, and is primarily concerned with getting money through kidnappings.

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

foreign hostages in philippines appear in video foreign hostages in philippines appear in video

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

foreign hostages in philippines appear in video foreign hostages in philippines appear in video

 



GMT 23:48 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

Mohamed bin Zayed, King Salman discuss regional issues

GMT 11:19 2016 Saturday ,24 September

Kerber to strengthen number one hold in Wuhan

GMT 09:54 2016 Friday ,30 December

Shoot knife-wielding Palestinian woman

GMT 22:51 2017 Sunday ,08 January

In Zimbabwe, a first lady exerts her power

GMT 02:52 2016 Wednesday ,21 December

Obama condoles with Merkel after market attack

GMT 16:29 2017 Thursday ,26 January

Prefers social TV programs to politics

GMT 16:43 2016 Saturday ,15 October

DiCaprio issues climate action call in new documentary

GMT 15:07 2016 Monday ,18 July

Riyad Bank posts SR1.15bn net profit

GMT 04:38 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Weak eyesight no hindrance for 'Professor' Chung
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday