The Prime Minister has condemned the “barbaric” killing of a British man who had been held hostage in Mali.
Gordon Brown said the Government had “strong reason” to believe that Edwin Dyer, who was among a group of tourists abducted by an Al Qaeda cell in January, had been murdered by his captors.
He said the tragedy reinforced the UK’s commitment to confront terrorism.
The PM said:
“We have strong reason to believe that a British citizen, Edwin Dyer, has been murdered by an Al Qaeda cell in Mali. I utterly condemn this appalling and barbaric act of terrorism. My thoughts are with Edwin Dyer’s family. I offer them the condolences of the whole country. We will give them every possible support. I hope that the media will allow them privacy to grieve.”
The kidnappers, members of a group known as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), had threatened to kill Mr Dyer unless the UK released radical cleric Abu Qatada, who is being held in prison while he fights extradition to Jordan to face terror charges.
Mr Brown added:
“This tragedy reinforces our commitment to confront terrorism. It strengthens our determination never to concede to the demands of terrorists, nor to pay ransoms. I want those who would use terror against British citizens to know beyond doubt that we and our allies will pursue them relentlessly, and that they will meet the justice they deserve.”
Mr Dyer had been on holiday in West Africa when he was kidnapped along with a Swiss couple and a German woman on January 22 after attending a cultural festival near the border with Niger.
Two of the captives were released in mid-April, but a Swiss man is still being held by AQIM.
delicious
digg
facebook
