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29/05/2008
Families Mark Iraq Hostage Anniversary - One Year On
The families of five British nationals are marking the anniversary of their sons' time in captivity in Iraq today.
The civilian contractors have been held hostage for a year, kidnapped by armed militants at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in Baghdad.
The BBC has named one of the hostages as IT consultant Peter Moore from Lincoln, who was working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint.
The other four men - who have not been officially named - were employed by Canadian Security firm GardaWorld.
Their captors, who have called themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq have released two videos of the hostages.
One of the videos, broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya in December, made threats to kill one hostage unless British forces withdrew from Iraq.
It is not believed that the threat was carried out.
The father of one of the captives has accused the government of not keeping the families fully informed.
However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has stressed that sensitive talks are taking place behind the scenes.
In December, Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the release of the hostages.
"We will do everything in our power secure our objective, which is the immediate release of hostages," he said.
A sister of one of the hostages, named only as Jason said in an interview with the BBC that her family "really missed him" and that they "really want him home".
The most recent appeal for the release of the captives was released in March. In it Mr Moore's stepmother, Pauline Sweeney said that "in no way are we or our loved ones politically involved" and that "we are simply families who want our loved ones homes again".
A senior UK government source has reportedly told Sky News that he believed the captors are "professionals with very strong operational security".
It is also reported that the US and Iraqi military have conducted house raids in Baghdad's Sadr City suburb acting on part British intelligence.
In October, 2004, British national Ken Bigley who had been working for Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services for seven years was beheaded by his captors after being in captivity for over three weeks.
It is reported that the captors were from the Tawhid and Jihad Islamist group.
(DS)
The civilian contractors have been held hostage for a year, kidnapped by armed militants at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in Baghdad.
The BBC has named one of the hostages as IT consultant Peter Moore from Lincoln, who was working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint.
The other four men - who have not been officially named - were employed by Canadian Security firm GardaWorld.
Their captors, who have called themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq have released two videos of the hostages.
One of the videos, broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya in December, made threats to kill one hostage unless British forces withdrew from Iraq.
It is not believed that the threat was carried out.
The father of one of the captives has accused the government of not keeping the families fully informed.
However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has stressed that sensitive talks are taking place behind the scenes.
In December, Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the release of the hostages.
"We will do everything in our power secure our objective, which is the immediate release of hostages," he said.
A sister of one of the hostages, named only as Jason said in an interview with the BBC that her family "really missed him" and that they "really want him home".
The most recent appeal for the release of the captives was released in March. In it Mr Moore's stepmother, Pauline Sweeney said that "in no way are we or our loved ones politically involved" and that "we are simply families who want our loved ones homes again".
A senior UK government source has reportedly told Sky News that he believed the captors are "professionals with very strong operational security".
It is also reported that the US and Iraqi military have conducted house raids in Baghdad's Sadr City suburb acting on part British intelligence.
In October, 2004, British national Ken Bigley who had been working for Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services for seven years was beheaded by his captors after being in captivity for over three weeks.
It is reported that the captors were from the Tawhid and Jihad Islamist group.
(DS)
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29 March 2006
Kember speaks of time in captivity
Freed British hostage Norman Kember has given an interview talking about his time held captive in Iraq. Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, north-west London, told the 'Baptist Times' of his "desperate" experience on being confined. He said: "Not going outside for four months - it's having that time stolen.
Kember speaks of time in captivity
Freed British hostage Norman Kember has given an interview talking about his time held captive in Iraq. Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, north-west London, told the 'Baptist Times' of his "desperate" experience on being confined. He said: "Not going outside for four months - it's having that time stolen.
30 September 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.
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.
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.
06 July 2007
Captors threaten to kill British girl
The kidnappers of a three-year-old British girl in Nigeria have threatened to kill her unless her father agrees to take her place. Margaret Hill, the daughter of an expatriate worker, was snatched from a car on her way to school in the city of Port Harcourt on Thursday morning. Her father Mike Hill, originally from Murton in Co.
Captors threaten to kill British girl
The kidnappers of a three-year-old British girl in Nigeria have threatened to kill her unless her father agrees to take her place. Margaret Hill, the daughter of an expatriate worker, was snatched from a car on her way to school in the city of Port Harcourt on Thursday morning. Her father Mike Hill, originally from Murton in Co.
22 October 2014
Father Of British IS Hostage John Cantile Dies
Paul Cantile, the father of John Cantile, a British man currently being held hostage by Islamic State (IS), has died. A statement released by the family confirmed that Mr Paul Cantile died in hospital from complications following pneumonia on 16 October. He was 80.
Father Of British IS Hostage John Cantile Dies
Paul Cantile, the father of John Cantile, a British man currently being held hostage by Islamic State (IS), has died. A statement released by the family confirmed that Mr Paul Cantile died in hospital from complications following pneumonia on 16 October. He was 80.
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