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Justin Trudeau condemns 'heinous' beheading of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel by Philippines militants Canadian hostage John Ridsdel killed by militants in the Philippines
(about 4 hours later)
The Canadian Prime Minister has condemned the killing of a Canadian hostage by Islamic militants in the Philippines, calling it "an act of cold-blooded murder". Canadian hostage John Ridsdel has been killed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines.
John Ridsdel, 68, was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines just hours after a demand for ransom expired. Ridsdel, 68, was beheaded by his kidnappers just hours after their demand for ransom expired on Monday.
Justin Trudeau said in a statement: “Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the killing as “an act of cold-blood murder.”
“This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage. “Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death,” Trudeau said in a televised address. “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.” While spending his vacation in the Philippines, Ridsdel, a semi-retired mining executive, was captured along with three 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. Ridsdel's family later issued a statement saying that he “loved life and lived it to the fullest with his family and friends at the center."
The Philippine army found a severed head inside a plastic bag on Monday in Jolo, a capital in Southern Philippines. "He was loved by all his friends and adored by his daughters, sister and extended family,” the statement read, according to the CBC. “Our family is devastated at the loss of our father and brother John Ridsdel whose life was cut tragically short by this senseless act of violence.”
The discovery came five hours after the deadline for a ransom demand, CBS News reports. Army officials found a severed head inside a plastic bag on Monday in Jolo, a capital in southern Philippines.
Kidnappers were demanding 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) for each of the three Canadian men held captive. The discovery came five hours after the deadline for ransom 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 close friend of Ridsdel, said that the last sixth months have been "very paintful."
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." "I've been involved behind the scenes for the last six months," Rae told the CBC, "trying to find a solution [has] been very painful."