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| Justin Trudeau outrage at beheading of Philippines hostage Ridsdel | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the beheading of a Canadian hostage kidnapped by Islamist militants in the Philippines. | |
| John Ridsdel, 68, was taken from a tourist resort with three others by the Abu Sayyaf group in September 2015. | John Ridsdel, 68, was taken from a tourist resort with three others by the Abu Sayyaf group in September 2015. |
| In November, the Islamist militants released a video showing Mr Ridsdel and three other captives, and demanded a ransom of $80m (£55m). | In November, the Islamist militants released a video showing Mr Ridsdel and three other captives, and demanded a ransom of $80m (£55m). |
| Mr Trudeau called his death "an act of cold-blooded murder". | Mr Trudeau called his death "an act of cold-blooded murder". |
| A Philippines army spokesman said Mr Ridsdel's severed head was found on the remote island of Jolo, hours after the Abu Sayyaf ransom deadline expired. | |
| Mr Ridsdel was taken to Jolo after being kidnapped from a marina near the city of Davao, along with another Canadian, Robert Hall; a Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad; and a Philippine woman, Mr Hall's girlfriend, Marites Flor. | Mr Ridsdel was taken to Jolo after being kidnapped from a marina near the city of Davao, along with another Canadian, Robert Hall; a Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad; and a Philippine woman, Mr Hall's girlfriend, Marites Flor. |
| Mr Ridsdel later warned in a video released by the group that he was due to be killed on 25 April if no ransom was paid. | Mr Ridsdel later warned in a video released by the group that he was due to be killed on 25 April if no ransom was paid. |
| The Canadian government has a policy against paying ransoms. | |
| Confirming the death of Mr Ridsdel, Mr Trudeau called it a "heinous act". | |
| "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," he said in a statement. | |
| What is Abu Sayyaf? | What is Abu Sayyaf? |
| One of smallest but most radical of Islamist separatist groups in southern Philippines, its name means "bearer of the sword" in Arabic. | |
| It split from the larger Moro National Liberation Front in 1991. Membership is said to number in the low hundreds. | It split from the larger Moro National Liberation Front in 1991. Membership is said to number in the low hundreds. |
| What does it want? | What does it want? |
| The group has been agitating for the creation of an independent Islamic state in predominantly Catholic Philippines, and uses tactics such as hostage-taking and bombings to pressure the government. | The group has been agitating for the creation of an independent Islamic state in predominantly Catholic Philippines, and uses tactics such as hostage-taking and bombings to pressure the government. |
| Several of its factions have pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. | |
| How dangerous is it? | How dangerous is it? |
| Numerous Filipino and foreign civilians have been kidnapped in south Philippines and parts of neighbouring Malaysia over the decades, and used as hostages to extract ransoms. | Numerous Filipino and foreign civilians have been kidnapped in south Philippines and parts of neighbouring Malaysia over the decades, and used as hostages to extract ransoms. |
| Though some have been released after negotiations or attacks by Philippine forces, others have been murdered when demands were not met. | Though some have been released after negotiations or attacks by Philippine forces, others have been murdered when demands were not met. |
| Abu Sayyaf has also said it carried out bombings in cities in the south and a ferry bombing in 2004 in Manila Bay that killed more than 100 people, considered one of the worst terror attacks in the Philippines. | Abu Sayyaf has also said it carried out bombings in cities in the south and a ferry bombing in 2004 in Manila Bay that killed more than 100 people, considered one of the worst terror attacks in the Philippines. |
| Islamic State threat in Southeast Asia | Islamic State threat in Southeast Asia |
| "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. He also worked as a journalist. | A former mining executive, Mr Ridsdel is described by Canadian media as semi-retired. He also worked as a journalist. |
| 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. |
| Several of its factions have declared their allegiance to the militant group Islamic State. Abu Sayyaf 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. |