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John Ridsdel: Hostage from Canada killed in Philippines | John Ridsdel: Hostage from Canada killed in Philippines |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A Canadian man held captive by Islamist militants for months in the Philippines has been killed. | A Canadian man held captive by Islamist militants for months in the Philippines has been killed. |
John Ridsdel, 68, was taken from a tourist resort along with three others by the Abu Sayyaf group in September last year. | John Ridsdel, 68, was taken from a tourist resort along with three others by the Abu Sayyaf group in September last year. |
The group had threatened to kill a male hostage on April 25 if a ransom was not paid. | |
Confirming the death, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it "an act of cold-blooded murder". | |
Mr Ridsdel was kidnapped from a marina near the city of Davao along with another Canadian, Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and a Philippine woman, Mr Hall's girlfriend Marites Flor. | |
They were taken 500km (300 miles) to the island of Jolo. Abu Sayyaf released a video of the group in November, in which they demanded $80m (£55m) for their release. | |
Mr Ridsdel later warned that he was due to be killed if no ransom was paid. | Mr Ridsdel later warned that he was due to be killed if no ransom was paid. |
Several hours after the deadline, a severed head was found in a street on Jolo. The Philippine authorities said it belonged to a foreign man but it has not yet been formally identified. | Several hours after the deadline, a severed head was found in a street on Jolo. The Philippine authorities said it belonged to a foreign man but it has not yet been formally identified. |
Former mining executive | Former mining executive |
"It's hard," a friend of Mr Ridsdel, Bob Rae, told CBC News. "It's just very hard. I've been involved behind the scenes for the last six months trying to find a solution and it's been very painful." | "It's hard," a friend of Mr Ridsdel, Bob Rae, told CBC News. "It's just very hard. I've been involved behind the scenes for the last six months trying to find a solution and it's been very painful." |
A former mining executive, Mr Ridsdel is described by Canadian media as semi-retired. | A former mining executive, Mr Ridsdel is described by Canadian media as semi-retired. |
He also worked as a journalist. | He also worked as a journalist. |
Offering his condolences, Mr Trudeau gave few details, saying he would not compromise the safety of the other captives. | Offering his condolences, Mr Trudeau gave few details, saying he would not compromise the safety of the other captives. |
Abu Sayyaf was set up in the 1990s with funding from al-Qaeda, and is fighting for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines. | Abu Sayyaf was set up in the 1990s with funding from al-Qaeda, and is fighting for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines. |
One of its commanders recently pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State. The group is also holding several other foreigners. | One of its commanders recently pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State. The group is also holding several other foreigners. |
Eighteen Philippine soldiers were killed in clashes with the militants on Basilan island near Jolo island earlier this month. | Eighteen Philippine soldiers were killed in clashes with the militants on Basilan island near Jolo island earlier this month. |