New hostage video: BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in explosives belt asks HAMAS, British government to not attempt rescue
Video can be downloaded here:
Posted on 06/24/2007 7:27:52 PM PDT by Alouette
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A video recording released Monday shows kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston wearing an apparent explosives belt of the type suicide bombers use and warning it will be detonated if an attempt is made to free him by force.
The video, about one minute, 42 seconds long, was posted on a Web site that has been used by militant groups in the past. It opens with the title "Alan's Appeal" in both English and Arabic and features the logo of the Army of Islam, a shadowy group that has claimed responsibility for snatching Johnston, a British Broadcasting Corp. correspondent.
"Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping," Johnston says in the recording, looking nervous and stressed.
"And the situation is now very serious, as you can see."
Johnston is seen wearing a red sweater with a blue and white checked vest strapped around his body — the apparent bomb belt.
"I have been dressed in what is an explosive belt, which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there is an attempt to storm the area," he continues. "They say they are ready to turn the hide-out into what they describe as a death zone if there is an attempt to free me by force."
Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip earlier this month, Hamas leaders have been saying that Johnston's release was imminent. Hamas officials have indicated they know where he is, but have not moved in for fear of harming him.
Mahmoud Zahar, a hardline Hamas leader, said Saturday that Johnston's captors were hesitant to release him, fearing retaliation after he is freed. He said Hamas is trying to convince the group that it would not be targeted if Johnston is handed over, even providing "written guarantees."
Asked more than a week ago whether force could be used to free Johnston, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said all options were open but stressed Hamas wants to resolve the case "in a way that protects the safety and security of the kidnapped journalist."
Johnston was seized from a Gaza street on March 12. His captors have previously said they want a Palestinian militant jailed in Britain to be released in exchange for Johnston.
In the video, Johnston was standing and shaking his head as he spoke. Light entered the room from above, and an Arabic translation was provided on the screen. Nobody else appears in the video.
"I do appeal to the Hamas movement and the British government not, not to, resort to the tactics of force in an effort to end this," he says in a jittery tone.
"I'd ask the BBC and anyone in Britain who wishes me well to support me in that appeal," he says. "It seems the answer is to return to negotiations, which I am told are very close to achieving a deal."
There was no immediate comment from the BBC or the British government about the video.
It was not known when the video was made. Deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas referred to it in a two-hour speech Sunday in Gaza City, but it was not posted to the Web site until early Monday.
The first time Johnston was seen after his abduction was in a video posted on another Web site on June 1. In that tape, the journalist appeared calm and said his captors had treated him well. He also criticized Britain for its role in Israel's creation and blamed British and American troops for the spiraling violence in Iraq.
The Army of Islam is dominated by the Doghmush family, a powerful Gaza clan with its own large militia. Although the group participated in a Hamas-backed operation to kidnap Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit last year, its relations with the militant Muslim group have since soured.
Johnston had reported from Gaza since 2005 and was the only foreign journalist to remain based there after Palestinian infighting erupted last year. There has been a series of kidnappings of foreign journalists in Gaza in the past two years, but Johnston's captivity has been the longest.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
hey Alouette would this change BBC name terrorists insurgants or they not going be allow call them that
I think BBC news so P***y out that they still call them insurgants
New hostage video: BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in explosives belt asks HAMAS, British government to not attempt rescue
Video can be downloaded here:
Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said all options were open but stressed Hamas wants to resolve the case “in a way that protects the safety and security of the kidnapped journalist.”
&&&
That is laughable. Like these animals care about human life!
You beat me to it. - What warrior would put his life on the line for an agent of the BBC?
Let the BBC rescue him.
OSINT.INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: (NEWS FIRST CLASS - Hebrew, Jonathan D. Halevi): "HAMAS, AL QAEDA COOPERATING" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Hamas and a branch of al-Qaeda are cooperating for terror attacks against Israel. A Palestinian security source has confirmed that the Army of Islam is a branch of al-Qaeda and was responsible for the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in a joint operation with Hamas, and also for the kidnapping of the British journalist.") (NOTE: "See also Hamas Activists Moving Over to Al-Qaeda - Jonathan D. Halevi (News First Class-Hebrew)") (May 14, 2007, 15:29 GMT)
The group is asking for a release of a man linked with Al Qaida jailed in UK, which hints the Army of Islam may be a Sunni extremist group. There were rumours about Al Qaida activists in the region, and this may be a hint.
“You beat me to it. - What warrior would put his life on the line for an agent of the BBC?”
Because the soldiers are actually professional?
Just a guess.
No. Professional soliders are correctly termed "mercenaries."
A "warrior" fights for that which he believes in and feels it so strongly that he is willing to die for that ideal, and that is exactly why I used the term.
Just a guess.
The BBC has actually given some very positive reporting to the US efforts in Iraq lately.
Aside from that, a soldier fights on behalf of his country, and this reporter is a British citizen and is doing a legitimate job in the ME and should have the protection of his country. I doubt that Britain is actually going to do anything to help him, though, particularly judging by their performance when the Iranians kidnapped some serving members of the British navy. Granted, the Iranians knew how to play their cards and didn’t threaten to blow them up. But in general, I’d say kidnapping a Brit is a pretty safe gamble. Heck, even kidnapping an American doesn’t seem to create serious problems for the terrorists.
Waiting for world condemnation since this is worse than underwear on the head.......waiting......
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