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UK aid worker released by captors in Somalia | UK aid worker released by captors in Somalia |
(40 minutes later) | |
A British security consultant kidnapped six days ago by gunmen in Somalia has been released, the charity Save the Children says. | |
Zimbabwean-born Frans Barnard was seized in the town of Adado last Thursday. A local colleague seized with him was freed the next day. | |
Save the Children denied that any ransom was paid for his release, as one local elder had said. | |
The charity said Mr Barnard was now heading to a place of safety. | |
"No ransom was paid. His release happened through negotiations," local official Mohamed Mohamud told Reuters news agency. | |
'Relatively safe area' | 'Relatively safe area' |
Frans Barnard had gone to the area to see if it was safe enough for Save the Children to set up a new base to help malnourished and sick children, along with their families. | |
But on Thursday evening, a group of masked gunmen stormed the building used as a staff residence. | But on Thursday evening, a group of masked gunmen stormed the building used as a staff residence. |
High walls and a heavy steel gate reportedly forced the kidnappers to climb in through a window before they fled with their hostages into an area said to be controlled by the hardline Islamist group al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda. | High walls and a heavy steel gate reportedly forced the kidnappers to climb in through a window before they fled with their hostages into an area said to be controlled by the hardline Islamist group al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda. |
Adado, which is near the Ethiopian border, is also closely linked to pirate groups who routinely take ships and crew hostage and demand hefty ransoms. | Adado, which is near the Ethiopian border, is also closely linked to pirate groups who routinely take ships and crew hostage and demand hefty ransoms. |
Until now, Adado had been seen as a relatively stable part of Somalia, with aid groups considering relocating there after being forced out of more volatile regions. | Until now, Adado had been seen as a relatively stable part of Somalia, with aid groups considering relocating there after being forced out of more volatile regions. |
Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Somalia in recent years. | Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Somalia in recent years. |
Most have been freed unhurt after a ransom has been paid. | Most have been freed unhurt after a ransom has been paid. |