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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| Five Britons abducted in Baghdad | Five Britons abducted in Baghdad |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five Britons have been kidnapped from Iraq's finance ministry in Baghdad, the British government has confirmed. | Five Britons have been kidnapped from Iraq's finance ministry in Baghdad, the British government has confirmed. |
| They included four bodyguards and a finance expert. Earlier reports said the expert was German. | They included four bodyguards and a finance expert. Earlier reports said the expert was German. |
| Witnesses and sources told the BBC that the kidnappers wore police uniforms and arrived in up to 40 police vehicles. | Witnesses and sources told the BBC that the kidnappers wore police uniforms and arrived in up to 40 police vehicles. |
| The British foreign office said it was "in urgent contact with Iraqi authorities to establish facts and to try to secure a swift resolution". | The British foreign office said it was "in urgent contact with Iraqi authorities to establish facts and to try to secure a swift resolution". |
| The British government convened an emergency meeting of its Cobra crisis management committee on Tuesday afternoon. | The British government convened an emergency meeting of its Cobra crisis management committee on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Also on Tuesday, Baghdad was shaken by a bus explosion which killed at least 23 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 17 people, hurt at least 36 and destroyed a Shia mosque. | Also on Tuesday, Baghdad was shaken by a bus explosion which killed at least 23 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 17 people, hurt at least 36 and destroyed a Shia mosque. |
| The US military also announced that 10 of its soldiers were killed in Iraq on Monday, including two in a helicopter crash. | The US military also announced that 10 of its soldiers were killed in Iraq on Monday, including two in a helicopter crash. |
| At least 112 US troops have been killed so far in May, making it the deadliest month this year. | At least 112 US troops have been killed so far in May, making it the deadliest month this year. |
| Renegade police? | Renegade police? |
| There are conflicting reports about exactly how Tuesday's abduction took place and how many people are missing. | There are conflicting reports about exactly how Tuesday's abduction took place and how many people are missing. |
| 'Hired guns' in Iraq | 'Hired guns' in Iraq |
| Witnesses said it was carried out by what appeared to be a police unit. | Witnesses said it was carried out by what appeared to be a police unit. |
| The street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers, in police camouflage uniforms, walked straight past guards at the finance ministry building on Palestine Street, the witnesses said. | The street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers, in police camouflage uniforms, walked straight past guards at the finance ministry building on Palestine Street, the witnesses said. |
| A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation. | A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Baghdad says that if such reports are true, it could point to the involvement of a renegade police unit, possibly special commandoes. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Baghdad says that if such reports are true, it could point to the involvement of a renegade police unit, possibly special commandoes. |
| While it has been possible in the past for criminals or militants to hire police uniforms and vehicles, he says, the scale of this operation suggests real police involvement. | While it has been possible in the past for criminals or militants to hire police uniforms and vehicles, he says, the scale of this operation suggests real police involvement. |
| It is well known that the Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militia groups, leading to split loyalties and corruption, our correspondent says. | It is well known that the Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militia groups, leading to split loyalties and corruption, our correspondent says. |
| Fewer kidnappings | Fewer kidnappings |
| The missing security guards are all believed to have been working for the GardaWorld security agency - a Canadian-owned firm largely staffed by British former service personnel. | The missing security guards are all believed to have been working for the GardaWorld security agency - a Canadian-owned firm largely staffed by British former service personnel. |
| GardaWorld is one of the biggest suppliers of private security in Iraq, and is thought to have hundreds of staff in the country. | GardaWorld is one of the biggest suppliers of private security in Iraq, and is thought to have hundreds of staff in the country. |
| Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias | Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias |
| It was not clear what job GardaWorld's client was doing in Baghdad. | It was not clear what job GardaWorld's client was doing in Baghdad. |
| American management consultancy BearingPoint said it had been told that one of its employees was among those captured. | American management consultancy BearingPoint said it had been told that one of its employees was among those captured. |
| The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says a British crisis team, including police hostage negotiators, members of the secret intelligence service, and regional experts, is being assembled to establish lines of communication with the kidnappers. | The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says a British crisis team, including police hostage negotiators, members of the secret intelligence service, and regional experts, is being assembled to establish lines of communication with the kidnappers. |
| About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago. | About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago. |
| This is thought to be the first time Westerners have been abducted from a government facility. | |
| Correspondents say hopes for the captives' future depends on who is holding them. | Correspondents say hopes for the captives' future depends on who is holding them. |
| The Sunni al-Qaeda has a record of killing captives, while if it is a Shia group, there may be scope for political negotiation, our correspondent in Baghdad says. | The Sunni al-Qaeda has a record of killing captives, while if it is a Shia group, there may be scope for political negotiation, our correspondent in Baghdad says. |
| If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. The British government itself has a declared position of not paying ransoms. | If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. The British government itself has a declared position of not paying ransoms. |