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Canadian hostage John Ridsdel killed by militants in the Philippines Canadian hostage John Ridsdel killed by militants in the Philippines
(about 9 hours later)
Canadian hostage John Ridsdel has been killed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines. The Canadian Prime Minister has condemned the killing of a Canadian hostage by Islamic militants in Philippines, calling the beheading  "an act of cold-blood murder".
Prime Minister condemned the killing on Monday calling the beheading "an act of cold-blood murder." John Ridsdel, 68, has been killed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines.
“Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death,” Canadian Trudeau said in a statement. “This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.” Justin Trudeau said in a statement: “Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death.
“This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.
“The government of Canada is committed to working with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for this heinous act.”“The government of Canada is committed to working with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for this heinous act.”
While spending his vacation in the Philippines, Ridsdel, a 68-year-old former mining executive, was captured along with several others by the militants in September 2015. While spending his vacation in the Philippines, Ridsdel, a semi-retired mining executive, was captured along with several others by the militants in September 2015.
The Philippine army found a severed head inside a plastic bag on Monday in Jolo, a capital in Southern Phillipines. The discovery came just five hours after the deadline for ransom had expired, CBS News reports. Kidnappers were demanding 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) for each of the three Canadian men held captive. The Philippine army found a severed head inside a plastic bag on Monday in Jolo, a capital in Southern Philippines.
The discovery came just five hours after the deadline for ransom had expired, CBS News reports.
Kidnappers were demanding 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) for each of the three Canadian men held captive.
Abu Sayyaf, which means "bearer of the sword" in Arabic, is a small radical Islamic separatist group which split from the larger Moro National Liberation Front in 1991, reports the BBC.
Bob Rae, a friend of Mr Ridsdel, said: "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."