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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Five Britons 'seized in Baghdad' | Five Britons 'seized in Baghdad' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five Britons are reported to have been kidnapped from Iraq's finance ministry in Baghdad. | Five Britons are reported to have been kidnapped from Iraq's finance ministry in Baghdad. |
| 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. |
| "We are aware of reports that a group of Westerners have been kidnapped. We are urgently looking into them," the UK foreign office said. | "We are aware of reports that a group of Westerners have been kidnapped. We are urgently looking into them," the UK foreign office said. |
| The foreign office is set to hold an emergency meeting on the situation and is assembling a crisis team. | The foreign office is set to hold an emergency meeting on the situation and is assembling a crisis team. |
| Also on Tuesday, Baghdad was shaken by a bus explosion which killed at least 22 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 15 people and hurt at least 36. | |
| The US military also announced that two of its soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday in Diyala province. | The US military also announced that two of its soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday in Diyala province. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias | Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias |
| Their abducted client was thought to be advising the Iraqi finance ministry. | Their abducted client was thought to be advising the Iraqi finance ministry. |
| 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 an abduction has been staged at a government facility. | This is thought to be the first time an abduction has been staged at 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, the BBC's Paul Wood 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, the BBC's Paul Wood in Baghdad says. |
| If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. However, the British government has a declared position of not paying ransoms. | If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. However, the British government has a declared position of not paying ransoms. |