British hostage David Bolam released by Libya militants
British hostage David Bolam is set free after being held by Libyan militants for six months, after reports that a ransom was paid to secure his release.
The Foreign Office has confirmed the release of British man David Bolam from Libya, just days after another British hostage, aid worker Alan Henning, was killed by militants from the Islamic State group (IS) fighting in Iraq and Syria.
A ransom had been paid to Mr Bolam’s captors via local political factions in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, according to the BBC, although the Foreign Office declined to comment on whether a payment was arranged – it does not support the payment of ransoms.
We have been supporting his family since he was taken Foreign Office
Mr Bolam worked for the International School in Benghazi and went missing in May before appearing in a video posted online in August, in which he pleaded for his life.
He had been working in Libya for seven years and flew back to the UK on Thursday night.
“We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family,” a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. “We have been supporting his family since he was taken.”
The kidnapping of the 63-year-old had not been reported at the request of his family and the Foreign Office.
Violence has erupted in Libya as the armed groups that helped to topple dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 turn their guns on each other in a struggle for the country’s vast oil resources and political domination.
British and American hostages
On Friday night a new video was posted online, appearing to show the murder of British aid worker Alan Henning by militants from IS following a threat to kill him last month.
The 47-year-old taxi driver from Salford was kidnapped last December in Syria, while he was delivering aid in the war-torn country.
IS had already killed British aid worker David Haines and two US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
The brutal murder of Alan Henning by Isil shows just how barbaric these terrorists are Prime Minister David Cameron
In this most recent video, the fourth apparent murder by the IS group, the group threatens an American hostage, identified as Peter Kassig.
Mr Henning was last seen at the end of a video posted online by IS three weeks ago, in which they threatened to kill him after apparently murdering David Haines.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Henning’s killers would be “hunted down and face justice”and met with security chiefs on Saturday morning to discuss the apparent murder.
“The brutal murder of Alan Henning by Isil shows just how barbaric these terrorists are,” he added. “My thoughts are with his wife and their children.”