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Two more British hostages seized in Iraq ‘are dead’
Terry Kirby29 Jul 2009
Two more of the British hostages held by militants in Iraq are thought to be dead, according to reports today.
The families of Alan McMenemy and Alec Maclachlan, both security guards, have been told that the men have “very likely” died in captivity.
It is thought the families will make a statement later today. The two men were among five Britons kidnapped in May 2007. They were seized at Baghdad's Ministry of Finance by about 40 gunmen disguised as Iraqi police officers.
Few details of the men and the diplomatic wrangling to free them have been disclosed because of a blackout request by the kidnappers — a militia known as Islamic Shia Resistance.
The bodies of two other men, Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, also working as private security guards, were handed over to British authorities in Iraq month. Both were later confirmed to have died from bullet wounds.
The Foreign Office today refused to comment on a BBC report saying the families of Mr McMenemy, from Glasgow, and Mr Maclachlan, from south Wales, had been told last week to prepare themselves for the worst.
A spokeswoman said: “We continue to work intensively for the release of the hostages still held in this highly complex case and are extremely concerned for their safety.”
Attention will now also focus on the condition of the fifth man, Peter Moore, 36, from Lincoln, an IT consultant. Mr Moore was working for American consultancy Bearingpoint and was being protected by the four security guards when the group was seized.
Mr Moore's father, Graham, from Leicestershire, who has criticised the Foreign Office's handling of the case, said today: “It is just a lottery at the moment as to what happens.”
He believed his civilian son was being treated differently from the ex-Army guards. He said: “We are going on the hope that Peter is alive. This just proves that the Foreign Office has mishandled it.”
The deaths come shortly after suggestions that a deal had been done with the kidnappers following the release from US custody of Shia leader Laith al-Khazali.
Reader views (3)
The Human Rights brigades and do gooders needs to wake up from their dream world they live in.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 29/07/2009 17:10
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So much for the Geneva Convention; and the humane treatment of prisoners help by Islamic Warriors.
- Mickinlondon, london., 29/07/2009 16:00
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They wern't the first to be held hostage and killed, so did they bury their head in the sand, and think they could earn a fortune? My sympathies goes out to their families but this was a disaster waiting to happen.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt, 29/07/2009 13:50
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