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Sunday, 29 July 2012
Foreign Office investigates reports of Britons among Islamist kidnappers of journalists in Syria
 The Foreign Office is investigating reports that British citizens (a better description than 'British' but even better would be 'holders of British passports') are among Islamist fighters who kidnapped a British photographer and his Dutch colleague in northern Syria. John Cantlie and Dutchman Jeroen Oerlemans were held by the group for a week . . . During their time in captivity they were threatened with death unless they converted to Islam . . . Mr Cantlie has not yet spoken of his ordeal, but Mr Oerlemans told Dutch media that some of the gang, which is reported to have been between 30 and 100 strong, had "Birmingham accents". A source close to the incident told The Sunday Telegraph that there possibly at least six men with British-sounding voices, including one with a heavy south London accent. "Nobody is quite sure yet how many, but these people generally travel in small groups of about half a dozen," the source said. The camp members also reportedly included people from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Chechnya, with no Syrians present. The source added that "round 40 per cent" of them apparently spoke English, although it was not clear what nationalities they were. The possibility of British nationals or residents being present among the group will be of concern to the Government, Posted on 07/29/2012 12:00 PM by Esmerelda Weatherwax
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29 Jul 2012
 Hugh Fitzgerald
"The possibility of British nationals or residents being present among the group will be of concern to the Government." Litotes. |