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30/09/2004
Son of UK hostage appeals again to kidnappers
The son of UK hostage Ken Bigley has made a direct appeal to the militant kidnappers to release his father, following on from Al Jazeera's broadcast yesterday of new footage which confirmed that Mr Bigley is still alive.
The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence yesterday showing the 62-year-old engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appeared drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
Ken Bigley tells his captors: "Tony Blair is a liar – he doesn’t care about me. I am just one person. My captors don’t want to kill me."
According to the Al Jazeera website, Mr Bigley also criticised the Prime Minister for not negotiating for his release, and issues another call for the release of women prisoners in Iraq's jails.
Reacting immediately to the development, Mr Bigley's son Craig and his brother Philip appeared before cameras to thank the kidnappers for "the opportunity to see him alive again".
Craig Bigley said: "Please could you pass on once more our love and thoughts to him. His continued captivity is putting great strain on his mother, Lil, my grandmother. From her hospital bed, she has asked us to pass on her love to her son.
"My dad, Ken Bigley, is an elderly man who is only a few weeks from retirement – and from becoming a grandfather for the first time.
"We, as a family, feel that the ultimate decision to release him rests with you, the people who are holding him. We once again ask you, please show mercy to my father and release him."
A departmental spokesperson said that Craig and Philip Bigley had been at the Foreign Office yesterday to see Baroness Symons. They wanted to make a statement to the Arabic-speaking media, using our facilities, which we were happy to make available, the spokesperson added.
The Briton was seized two weeks ago, along with Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, by the Tawhid and Jihad group which is led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Mr Armstrong and Mr Hensley were beheaded last week.
(gmcg/mb)
The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence yesterday showing the 62-year-old engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appeared drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
Ken Bigley tells his captors: "Tony Blair is a liar – he doesn’t care about me. I am just one person. My captors don’t want to kill me."
According to the Al Jazeera website, Mr Bigley also criticised the Prime Minister for not negotiating for his release, and issues another call for the release of women prisoners in Iraq's jails.
Reacting immediately to the development, Mr Bigley's son Craig and his brother Philip appeared before cameras to thank the kidnappers for "the opportunity to see him alive again".
Craig Bigley said: "Please could you pass on once more our love and thoughts to him. His continued captivity is putting great strain on his mother, Lil, my grandmother. From her hospital bed, she has asked us to pass on her love to her son.
"My dad, Ken Bigley, is an elderly man who is only a few weeks from retirement – and from becoming a grandfather for the first time.
"We, as a family, feel that the ultimate decision to release him rests with you, the people who are holding him. We once again ask you, please show mercy to my father and release him."
A departmental spokesperson said that Craig and Philip Bigley had been at the Foreign Office yesterday to see Baroness Symons. They wanted to make a statement to the Arabic-speaking media, using our facilities, which we were happy to make available, the spokesperson added.
The Briton was seized two weeks ago, along with Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, by the Tawhid and Jihad group which is led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Mr Armstrong and Mr Hensley were beheaded last week.
(gmcg/mb)
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29 September 2004
New footage of UK hostage is released
Footage of the British hostage Ken Bigley has been broadcasted by the Qatar-based news agency Al Jazeera today. During the short sequence, the 62-year-old engineer is sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appears drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
New footage of UK hostage is released
Footage of the British hostage Ken Bigley has been broadcasted by the Qatar-based news agency Al Jazeera today. During the short sequence, the 62-year-old engineer is sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appears drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
20 September 2004
Family of British hostage appeal for son's return
The family of Ken Bigley, the Liverpool man being held hostage in Iraq, have appealed for his safe release. In a statement sent to the Arab media Mr Bigley's younger brother Philip said that he spoke on behalf of their elderly mother who just wants to see her son return home "safe and sound".
Family of British hostage appeal for son's return
The family of Ken Bigley, the Liverpool man being held hostage in Iraq, have appealed for his safe release. In a statement sent to the Arab media Mr Bigley's younger brother Philip said that he spoke on behalf of their elderly mother who just wants to see her son return home "safe and sound".
29 June 2005
Bigley family appeals for release of body
The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released. The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken hostage by Iraqi militant group Tawhid and Jihad on September 16, 2004.
Bigley family appeals for release of body
The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released. The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken hostage by Iraqi militant group Tawhid and Jihad on September 16, 2004.
23 September 2004
Wife of UK hostage issues mercy plea to kidnappers
The wife of Ken Bigley, the British engineer who is being held hostage in Iraq, has made an emotional appeal today for the safe release of her husband.
Wife of UK hostage issues mercy plea to kidnappers
The wife of Ken Bigley, the British engineer who is being held hostage in Iraq, has made an emotional appeal today for the safe release of her husband.
08 October 2004
Ken Bigley has been executed, reports claim
Ken Bigley, the British man being held hostage by Islamic militants in Iraq, has been murdered, reports emerging today have claimed. Reuters have quoted a source claiming to have seen video footage showing the 62-year-old engineer being beheaded. Mr Bigley, flanked by six masked men, is shown making a statement to the camera before being executed.
Ken Bigley has been executed, reports claim
Ken Bigley, the British man being held hostage by Islamic militants in Iraq, has been murdered, reports emerging today have claimed. Reuters have quoted a source claiming to have seen video footage showing the 62-year-old engineer being beheaded. Mr Bigley, flanked by six masked men, is shown making a statement to the camera before being executed.
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