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Pakistan Taleban 'kill hostage' Pakistan Taleban 'kill hostage'
(1 day later)
A Taleban group in Pakistan is reportedly claiming to have killed a Polish engineer, Piotr Stanczak, who was kidnapped in September last year. Taleban militants in Pakistan say they have killed a Polish engineer kidnapped in September and have released a video purporting to show his death.
Reports quote a Taleban spokesman as saying he was killed after a deadline expired for the Pakistani government to free captured militants. A Taleban spokesman said Piotr Stanczak had been killed after a deadline expired for the Pakistani government to free captured militants.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw had received "informal confirmation" that the man was killed. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw had received "informal confirmation" of the man's death.
Pakistani security officials said they could not confirm the Taleban claim.Pakistani security officials said they could not confirm the Taleban claim.
A Taleban spokesman said Mr Stanczak was beheaded after a deadline expired on Friday for the release of a number of militants in government hands, Reuters reported. A Taleban spokesman said Mr Stanczak had been beheaded after a deadline expired on Friday for the release of a number of militants in government hands.
"We have killed the man after authorities refused to release our colleagues," the spokesman, calling himself Mohammed, told Reuters. "We have killed the man after authorities refused to release our colleagues," the spokesman, calling himself Mohammed, told Reuters news agency.
Pakistani security officials said the Taleban now wanted money for the return of Mr Stanczak's body. News agencies subsequently received copies of a graphic video apparently showing a man being beheaded.
Pakistani security officials said the Taleban wanted money for the return of Mr Stanczak's body.
Growing insurgencyGrowing insurgency
He was kidnapped by gunmen on 28 September while visiting one of his company's sites in north-west Pakistan, about 65km (40 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad. He was kidnapped by gunmen on 28 September while visiting one of his company's sites at Attock in north-west Pakistan, about 70km (45 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad.
Mr Stanczak's company, Geofizyka Krakow, was doing surveying work for a Pakistani oil company.Mr Stanczak's company, Geofizyka Krakow, was doing surveying work for a Pakistani oil company.
His Pakistani driver, bodyguard and translator were killed in the attack.His Pakistani driver, bodyguard and translator were killed in the attack.
The Pakistani government had been in negotiations with the Taleban for Mr Stanczak's release.The Pakistani government had been in negotiations with the Taleban for Mr Stanczak's release.
"From Pakistan we have an informal confirmation that this tragedy in fact took place," Mr Tusk told Poland's TVN24 news channel."From Pakistan we have an informal confirmation that this tragedy in fact took place," Mr Tusk told Poland's TVN24 news channel.
"We have used all political, operational, logistical means to prevent this tragedy," he said."We have used all political, operational, logistical means to prevent this tragedy," he said.
Piotr Adamkiewicz, a spokesman at the Polish embassy in Islamabad, said the mission had seen some images from the video.
"We are thinking that this is [Mr Stanczak] but we have to wait to receive the full tape," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Pakistan has been fighting a growing insurgency by Taleban militants in its north-west region bordering Afghanistan.Pakistan has been fighting a growing insurgency by Taleban militants in its north-west region bordering Afghanistan.
A number of foreigners have been kidnapped, including Afghan and Iranian diplomats and two Chinese engineers (one of whom later escaped). An American official with the UN refugee agency based in Quetta, in western Pakistan, was kidnapped last week. A number of foreigners have been kidnapped, including Afghan and Iranian diplomats and two Chinese engineers (one of whom later escaped).
An American official with the UN refugee agency based in Quetta, in western Pakistan, was kidnapped last week.