Hostage Bigley said killed in Iraq

[thebarman]

A militant group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has killed British hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq, Abu Dhabi Television says, quoting "informed" sources in Iraq.

The 62-year-old engineer was kidnapped in Baghdad on September 16 by the Tawhid and Jihad Group which has also beheaded two American hostages who were seized along with the Briton.

"We have learned from informed sources in the Iraqi capital that the kidnappers of Kenneth Bigley have killed him," an Abu Dhabi newscaster said.

Asked to comment on the report, Bigley's 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.

A British embassy spokeswoman said: "I cannot confirm it".

The kidnappers had demanded U.S.-led forces in Iraq release women prisoners in Iraqi jails to spare Bigley's life. Last week, Bigley appealed to Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the captor's demands to save his life.

Blair has said his government will not negotiate with the hostage takers.

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

One of Gaddafi's sons, who has interceded in the past for Westerners held by Islamist groups, also said he was using his charity foundation contacts in Iraq to help free Bigley, saying the next 48 hours would be crucial for his fate.

Source

Let us all pray this is not true

[Talon]

Hostage Bigley reported killed

The Foreign Office is checking unconfirmed reports on an Arab TV station that British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been killed by Iraqi militants.

Abu Dhabi Television said it was told by "informed" sources in Iraq.

Mr Bigley, 62, of Liverpool, was taken hostage on 16 September by the Tawhid and Jihad group which beheaded two Americans captured at the same time.

The Foreign Office has informed Mr Bigley's family of the reports but says it cannot confirm them.

BBC correspondent Caroline Hawley said that although Arab television stations appeared to have good contacts with militant groups, the report on Abu Dhabi TV was "lacking in detail".

"To my knowledge, the station had not given any information about how they have been told Kenneth Bigley was killed," she said.

Previous claim

It is not the first time it has been reported that Mr Bigley has been killed.

A previous claim on a website was quickly dismissed as unreliable.

On Friday, Reuters news agency also quoted Falluja insurgent sources as saying Mr Bigley had been killed on Thursday.

The sources reportedly said Bigley was killed in the town of Latifiya, about 22 miles (35km) south west of Baghdad.

Commenting on the latest reports, Mr Bigley's brother Paul, who has led a campaign for the engineer's release told Reuters: "I have heard nothing at all.

"I have been optimistic and remain optimistic."

He said he was praying the news was not true.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "trying urgently to corroborate reports that Kenneth Bigley has been killed but has not yet done so".

The Foreign Office was "in close touch with the family at this difficult time", he added.

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

Irish passport

Mr Bigley was last seen alive in a video broadcast last week, pleading for Prime Minister Tony Blair to help him.

An Iraqi cleric claimed to have met Mr Bigley last Saturday.

Syed al-Kareem said part of the reason Mr Bigley had not been executed was because his captors were trying to determine if he is Irish or British.

Ireland has now granted a passport to Mr Bigley, whose mother was born in Dublin.

His Irish citizenship has formed part of a campaign for his freedom, led by his brother Paul.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/3726744.stm

[Guest Lottie]

I hope this is not true.

Edited October 8, 2004 by Lottie

[Talon]

Bet you there will still be some people out there saying 'Islam means peace' trying deny this had anything to do with their religion.

B*stards

[Guest Lottie]

Reuters:

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - British hostage Ken Bigley was beheaded near Baghdad on Thursday afternoon, insurgent sources in the rebel-held town of Falluja said on Friday.

Abu Dhabi Television, quoting "informed" sources in Iraq, had said earlier that the militant group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had killed Bigley.

Britain's Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports. "We cannot corroborate the reports ... We are in close touch with Mr. Bigley's family at this difficult time," a Foreign Office spokesman told Reuters in London.

The insurgent sources said Bigley was killed in the town of Latifiya, about 35 km (22 miles) southwest of the Iraqi capital.

They declined to say how they had got their information.

Britain's Sky TV, quoting British government sources, also said Bigley had been killed.

The 62-year-old engineer was kidnapped in Baghdad on Sept. 16 by the Tawhid and Jihad Group which has beheaded two American hostages who were seized along with the Briton. Militants have launched a spate of kidnappings as part of attempts to undermine the U.S.-led coalition ahead of January elections.

"We have learned from informed sources in the Iraqi capital that the kidnappers of Kenneth Bigley have killed him," an Abu Dhabi newscaster said.

The kidnappers had demanded U.S.-led forces in Iraq release women prisoners in Iraqi jails 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.

Asked to comment on the reports, Bigley's 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.

   

[Guest Lottie]

This doesn't look good. b*******!

[thebarman]

My collegue at work is listening to the radio and says it has now been confirmed the beheading of Ken Bigley has been shown on Al Jazera TV...

...It's almost worth joining the army just to get a chance to shoot the ****ers

[Talon]

My collegue at work is listening to the radio and says it has now been confirmed the beheading of Ken Bigley has been shown on Al Jazera TV...

I don't know the words to say that this point.

My sympathies are with the family.

And I hope the terrorists scum rot in hell.

[Fluffybunny]

It sounds like he is dead. Every news service I can find here and overseas is saying that the video is out there of his death.

I feel bad for his family.

The b******* that did this to him however have got theirs coming to them on a silver platter. It isn't going to be pretty and I am certain that our Army is going to be kind enough to help each of them in their wish to become martyrs. Slowly and painfully so that they really earn what allah has waiting for them...

[wunarmdscissor]

Such brave men eh.

6 of them stand hiding their face while one of them decapitates an elderly blindfolded man.

b*******

[Guest Lottie]

Thats it he's gone..

Hostage Bigley Murdered in Iraq

British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been murdered by his captors in Iraq, his family has confirmed.

A video released by militants showed Mr Bigley making a statement before being killed, according to witnesses.

"We can confirm that the family has now received absolute proof that Ken Bigley was executed by his captors," his brother Philip said.

Mr Bigley, 62, of Liverpool, was taken hostage on 16 September by the Tawhid and Jihad group.

It beheaded two Americans captured at the same time.

Philip Bigley said the family had experienced "three long weeks of waiting and three long weeks of agony".

He said Mr Bigley's Liverpool-based family believed the government did everything possible to secure his release "in this impossible situation".

"It could be that the fate of Ken was sealed from day one," he said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his "utter revulsion" at the killing.

The killing was also condemned by Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi who said it was a horrible, barbaric act.

There were also reports from the militant stronghold of Fallujah that Mr Bigley had been beheaded on Thursday afternoon in Latifiya, near Baghdad.

A video released by the kidnappers showed six hooded, armed men standing behind Mr Bigley, who was on his knees, according to a witness who watched the video for the Reuters news agency.

One of the six spoke in Arabic for a minute.

He said the group would carry out "the sentence of execution against this hostage" because the British government "did not meet our demand" to release Iraqi women detained by the US-led command in Iraq.

He then took a knife from his belt and cut off Mr Bigley's head as three other militants held him down.

The killer then held up the head for the camera.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said of the murder: "I feel desperately sorry for Ken Bigley, for his family who have behaved with extraordinary dignity and courage.

"I feel utter revulsion at the people who did this."

He said, the kidnappers had "played" the situation and their actions should not prevail over those "wanting to make Iraq a better place".

Barbaric murder

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed his "deepest condolences".

"This is a barbaric murder following three weeks of terrible suffering for his family," he said.

At a later press conference Mr Straw said the government had exchanged messages with the captors but they refused to abandon their demands.

He is due to visit the Bigley family on Friday night.

'Grotesque barbarity'

Conservative leader Michael Howard condemned the kidnappers' "grotesque barbarity" and said his heart went out to the family in their moment of terrible loss.

"To those who committed this atrocious and despicable act our message is: we shall never give in to blackmail from terrorists," he said.

UK Muslims condemn killing

Mr Bigley's relatives gathered at their family home in Liverpool as news of his death broke.

His son Craig, mother Lil and brothers Philip and Paul had campaigned for his release.

Paul Bigley had been due to take part in a Stop the War Coalition rally at Liverpool University on Friday evening, via a video link from his Amsterdam home.

'Blood on his hands'

Spokeswoman Carmel Byrne said a message from him would be read out instead.

She said it read: "Please, please stop this war and prevent other lives being lost. It is illegal and has to stop. Mr Blair has blood on his hands."

Mr Bigley was last seen alive in a video broadcast last week, pleading for Tony Blair to help him.

Mr Bigley's Thai-born wife Sombat, had made several emotional appeals for mercy.

The engineer was captured just weeks before his official retirement when he would have joined her in Thailand.

Mr Bigley's Irish-born mother Lil, 86, has been treated in hospital several times.

More than 30 of the 140 foreign nationals kidnapped in Iraq have been killed.

[wunarmdscissor]

What the hell does paul bigley want??

Is he stupid??

I know hes grieving but so are his other brothers and family.

They understand the bigger picutre why doesnt he?

If theyd given into the terrorists every westerner around the world would be at risk from these moslem terrorists.

[Guest Lottie]

I am very sad for the family, I cannot imagine the pain they are going through.

As for the COWARDS! Who did this. I hope they feel the pain and torture and humiliation 100x's worse and rot in their own evil and filth. Scum!

[twpdyp]

As for the COWARDS! Who did this. I hope they feel the pain and torture and humiliation 100x's worse and rot in their own evil and filth. Scum!

First I want to start by saying that my prayers go out to the family of Kenneth Bigley as they did for all of the other soldiers and hostages that have lost their lives trying to do a noble thing.

Ok it has been made crystal clear that these animals cannot be reasoned with and that human kindness does not exist in their hearts. That coupled with their seeming lack of fear of death makes them extremely dangerous. When are we going to stop trying to be the worlds big brother and get down to a level that these monsters understand. Didn't the events of 9-11 make that perfectly clear? Lets turn loose the dogs of war, I mean really turn them loose, no more war with rules that the opposition does not have the moral decency to follow. This is a war that needed to be fought and must be fought on a level that our enemy understands. Surely there must be something that these thugs fear worse than death, everyone has a weakness. Something that will turn them into the quivering cowards that they truly are. The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth why are we hiding behind rules of engagement that our enemy does not seem to follow? I read somewhere that to combat violence you must meet it with greater violence, and to overcome force you must use greater force. If indeed that is true then what are we waiting for? Someone over there knows the who and where, SQUEEZE them until they scream out the answers to our questions and then banish the offenders into Hell they deserve to be in. And do it is such a way that sends a clear and concise message to anyone else with designs on perpetrating a terrorist act or taking hostages, they will not only fail in their attempt but die in the most terrible way ever devised by man!!!!!

[Warpigs]

British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been murdered by his captors in Iraq, his family has confirmed.

A video released by militants showed Mr Bigley being killed, witnesses said.

"We can confirm that the family has now received absolute proof that Ken Bigley was executed by his captors," his brother Philip said.

Mr Bigley, 62, of Liverpool, was taken hostage on 16 September by the Tawhid and Jihad group. It beheaded two Americans captured at the same time.

Philip Bigley said the family had experienced "three long weeks of waiting and three long weeks of agony".

The government had done all it could to secure Mr Bigley's release, he said, but his brother's fate may have been sealed "from day one".

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the government had exchanged messages with the captors but they refused to abandon their demands.

Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his "utter revulsion" at the killing.

The killing was also condemned by Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as a horrible, barbaric act.

There were also reports from the militant stronghold of Falluja that Mr Bigley had been beheaded on Thursday afternoon in Latifiya, near Baghdad.

A video released by the kidnappers showed six hooded, armed men standing behind Mr Bigley, who was on his knees, according to a witness who watched the video for the Reuters news agency.

One of the six spoke in Arabic for a minute.

He said the group would carry out "the sentence of execution against this hostage" because the British government "did not meet our demand" to release Iraqi women detained by the US-led command in Iraq.

He then took a knife from his belt and cut off Mr Bigley's head as three other militants held him down.

The killer then held up the head for the camera.

'Utter revulsion'

Prime Minister Tony Blair said of the murder: "I feel desperately sorry for Ken Bigley, for his family who have behaved with extraordinary dignity and courage.

"I feel utter revulsion at the people who did this."

He said, the kidnappers had "played" the situation and their actions should not prevail over those "wanting to make Iraq a better place".

The Queen sent a private message of condolence to Ken Bigley's mother Lil this evening, Buckingham Palace said.

Conservative leader Michael Howard condemned the kidnappers' "grotesque barbarity" adding: "We shall never give in to blackmail from terrorists."

Mr Bigley's relatives gathered at their family home in Liverpool as news of his death broke.

His son Craig, mother Lil and brothers Philip, Stan and Paul had campaigned for his release.

'Immeasurable loss'

On Friday Philip Bigley thanked "those who have prayed for Ken and our family, from all religious backgrounds".

"We will always remember Ken for his love, compassion and, above all, his 'Liverpool' sense of humour," he said.

"He was a truly wonderful father, husband, brother and son. The loss to our family is immeasurable.

"The horror of these final days will haunt us for ever."

He said Mr Bigley's Liverpool-based family believed the government did everything possible to secure his release "in this impossible situation".

"It could be that the fate of Ken was sealed from day one," he said.

In a telephone interview with the TV station Al-Jazeera, Paul Bigley said he held the group who took his brother fully responsible for his death.

Mr Bigley said: "This war is illegal and it must stop. The United Nations declared this war illegal. There are no weapons of mass destruction, which were taken as a foundation for this war. Therefore, this war must stop."

Mr Bigley was last seen alive in a video broadcast last week, pleading for Tony Blair to help him.

Mr Bigley's Thai-born wife Sombat, had made several emotional appeals for mercy.

The engineer was captured just weeks before his official retirement when he would have joined her in Thailand.

Mr Bigley's Irish-born mother Lil, 86, has been treated in hospital several times.

Tawhid and Jihad is led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The US says he has links to al-Qaeda and there is a £13.9m bounty on his head.

More than 30 of the 140 foreign nationals kidnapped in Iraq have been killed.

[Talon]

'Islam means peace'

b******s

[twpdyp]

First I want to start by saying that my prayers go out to the family of Kenneth Bigley as they did for all of the other soldiers and hostages that have lost their lives trying to do a noble thing.

Ok it has been made crystal clear that these animals cannot be reasoned with and that human kindness does not exist in their hearts. That coupled with their seeming lack of fear of death makes them extremely dangerous. When are we going to stop trying to be the worlds big brother and get down to a level that these monsters understand. Didn't the events of 9-11 make that perfectly clear? Lets turn loose the dogs of war, I mean really turn them loose, no more war with rules that the opposition does not have the moral decency to follow. This is a war that needed to be fought and must be fought on a level that our enemy understands. Surely there must be something that these thugs fear worse than death, everyone has a weakness. Something that will turn them into the quivering cowards that they truly are. The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth why are we hiding behind rules of engagement that our enemy does not seem to follow? I read somewhere that to combat violence you must meet it with greater violence, and to overcome force you must use greater force. If indeed that is true then what are we waiting for? Someone over there knows the who and where, SQUEEZE them until they scream out the answers to our questions and then banish the offenders into Hell they deserve to be in. And do it is such a way that sends a clear and concise message to anyone else with designs on perpetrating a terrorist act or taking hostages, they will not only fail in their attempt but die in the most terrible way ever devised by man!!!!!

[Talon]

Lets turn loose the dogs of war, I mean really turn them loose, no more war with rules that the opposition does not have the moral decency to follow.

Oh trust me, after the election no matter who wins that will happen, they just wont do it until afterwards in case it hurts Bush's image. Afterwards though, the military isn't going to give a damn.

[Talon]

United States is the most powerful nation on Earth why are we hiding behind rules of engagement that our enemy does not seem to follow?

Because the elections around the corner, wait until afterwards