Hopefully not a dupe

Video Shows British Hostage Beheaded in Iraq
By Maher Nazih, Reuters

 

Getty Images
A videotape broadcast Sept. 29 shows Bigley huddled in a cage.  
 
BAGHDAD (Oct. 8) - British hostage Ken Bigley has been beheaded in Iraq, three weeks after he was kidnapped by militants demanding the release of women held by U.S.-led forces, a video seen by Reuters showed on Friday.

His family later confirmed the death.

Guerrilla sources in the rebel-held city of Fallujah said earlier that Bigley, who was being held by a militant group led by alleged al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed on Thursday afternoon in Latifiya, southwest of Baghdad.

In the video, seen by a Reuters witness in the office of a foreign news organization in Baghdad, the 62-year-old engineer was shown making a statement as six militants stood behind him, before one cut his head off with a knife.

The tape showed Bigley wearing an orange jump suit of the type worn by detainees in U.S. prisons including the detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

 
Talk About It  
 
 
· Post a Message | Chat
· Top News Boards  
 
Commenting on earlier reports of Bigley's death, a British Foreign Office spokesman told Reuters in London: "We cannot corroborate the reports ... We are in close touch with Mr. Bigley's family at this difficult time."

Britain's Sky TV, however, quoted British government sources as saying Bigley had been killed.

Bigley was kidnapped in Baghdad on Sept. 16 by the Tawhid and Jihad Group, along with two American colleagues who were beheaded soon afterwards. Militants have launched a spate of kidnappings as part of attempts to undermine the U.S.-led coalition ahead of January elections.

The kidnappers had demanded U.S.-led forces in Iraq release women prisoners to spare Bigley's life. Washington says it holds only two women in Iraq, both top weapons scientists from the days of Saddam Hussein.

The British say they are not holding any women.

Both the U.S. and British governments have said they will not negotiate with hostage-takers and the two women being held by the Americans have not been freed.

 
More on This Story  
 
 
· U.S. Strike in Fallujah Kills 11  
 
Asked about the first report of Bigley's death, from Abu Dhabi TV, his brother Paul told Reuters in London: "I have heard nothing at all. I have been optimistic and remain optimistic. I am praying this news is not true."

Iraqi Interior Ministry officials in Baghdad said they had no information on the report.

AGONY FOR THE FAMILY

British Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said on Sky TV that London was urgently checking the reports.

"This is absolute agony for the Bigley family who have already suffered so much and all our thoughts are with them at the moment as they go through this harrowing business," she said.

Last week, Bigley appealed, in a video tape released by his kidnappers, to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the captor's demands to save his life.

"Tony Blair is lying, he is lying when he said he's negotiated. He has not negotiated. My life is cheap. He doesn't care about me," Bigley said while squatting behind metal meshing and looking distraught.

"I am begging you for my life. Have some compassion please," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Several groups and individuals have tried to negotiate Bigley's release. This week, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appealed to the kidnappers to free him.

Two Western hostages are still held in Iraq -- French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot. They were seized by a different group, the Islamic Army in Iraq.

The United States says Zarqawi is its top enemy in Iraq and in recent months has launched several strikes on his suspected strongholds in Falluja.

Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for many of the bloodiest suicide attacks in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was overthrown, and for killing several hostages.

Bigley was seized from a house in Baghdad along with Americans Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley. Tawhid and Jihad posted videos of the beheading of the Americans on the Internet.

Some 30 foreign hostages are thought to have been killed in Iraq since a wave of kidnappings started in April.


10/08/04 12:37 ET

This is just a cry for peace on their part.  

When will the world wake up and realize that the only way to stop this crap is to exterminate the terrorists, NOT APPEASE THEM!!!  No Racism just pure simple consequence of actions.

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=282067

It can't be said enough...

Quoted: This is just a cry for peace on their part.   When will the world wake up and realize that the only way to stop this crap is to exterminate the terrorists, NOT APPEASE THEM!!!  No Racism just pure simple consequence of actions.

Judging from what has occurred thus far, the world will never wake up. As long as wars must be fought by the USA the liberal way, as they have since Korea and Viet Nam, we will remain fucked, and our brave men and women will continue to die unnecessarily. We are the greatest military force in the world, but our forces are constrained by fears that other countries will not approve of our tactics if we employ the most efficient/expediant way to conduct a war. Very sad, but reality.

kill them allah!