Abu Sayyaf Beheads Canadian Hostage
The world is stunned again by the gruesome killing of John Ridsdel, a Canadian hostage, at the hands of the notorious terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.
The Canadian hostage was beheaded seven months after his abduction. The severed head of the former Canadian mining executive Ridsdel was found on the streets of Samal Island, a tourist destination well-known for its pristine beaches in the Philippines.
Ridsdel, 68, was abducted along with three other tourists including Canadian Robert Hall, a Norwegian man and a Filipino woman last September by the Abu Sayyaf armed group. The four were abducted from a marina on Samal Island.
An online video showed Ridsdel and fellow Canadian Robert Hall, Filipino Marites Flor and Norwegian resort owner Kjartan Sekkingstad, in a sitting position with no shirts. The militants threatened the public that if the ransom was not paid by 3pm Monday local time, Ridsdel would be beheaded. News spread like wildfire that Abu Sayyaf asked for a ransom demand of P300 million from the family of Ridsdel.
The Canadian government is known to have a policy of not paying ransom to kidnappers.
In the video, Mr. Ridsdel begged with the Canadian government to meet the demands of the terrorist group.
“To my family and this is so much bigger, to the Canadian prime minister, Canadian people and the world, please do what is needed to meet their demands within one month or they will kill me and they will execute us.” – John Ridsdel
Abu Sayyaf is a notorious terrorist group in the Philippines and known for its 25-year record of bombings and kidnappings. The United States of America, Canada and other Western countries consider Abu Sayyaf a terrorist organisation.
Canada Condemns ‘Cold-blooded Murder’ of John Ridsdel
In his remarks, Trudeau expressed condemnation and outrage over Ridsdel’s gruesome killing.
“Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage takers and this unnecessary death.” – President Trudeau
The Canadian president added, “This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.”
Outraged by the heinous killing of Ridsdel, President Trudeau vowed to collaborate with the government of Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for the crime and bring them to justice.
