Free Republic

Italian intelligence officials who secured the release of two hostages in Iraq are working with their British counterparts to try to free Kenneth Bigley, the captive Briton. They believe that Sunni Muslim insurgents who kidnapped Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, the aid workers freed last week, have links with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Tawhid wal Jihad, the group holding Mr Bigley. The engineer, 62, was captured 16 days ago with two American colleagues, who have been beheaded. An Italian diplomat said: "Italy's intelligence is working very closely with Britain's to lend every assistance to free the hostage. It has...

Dutch intelligence officers raided the home of Kenneth Bigley's brother last night. An intelligence officer from the Foreign Office is understood to have accompanied them to Paul Bigley's home in Amsterdam. The raid came amid claims that the British hostage was free to roam his kidnappers' home in Iraq and was "caged" only for terrorist videos. Paul Bigley's computer was seized and he was interrogated about his alleged contact with the Tawhid and Jihad group, which yesterday claimed responsibility for Thursday's killing of at least 35 children in Baghdad. Material from his computer was downloaded and sent back for analysis...

Dutch home of Bigley's brother "raided" Sat 2 October, 2004 00:31 LONDON (Reuters) - Dutch armed intelligence officers have raided the Amsterdam home of Paul Bigley, brother of Liverpool engineer Kenneth Bigley who is being held hostage in Iraq, the Independent has reported. It said they seized Bigley's computer and interrogated him about links with the group holding his brother captive. He signed a five-page statement and the officers sent information from his computer hard disc to London for analysis, said Saturday's Independent, which quoted neighbours of Bigley. Neither the Foreign Office nor Paul Bigley were immediately available for comment....