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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. | 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, also seized, was freed the next day. | Zimbabwean-born Frans Barnard was seized in the town of Adado last Thursday. A local colleague, also seized, was freed the next day. |
The charity said Mr Barnard was now heading to a place of safety. | The charity said Mr Barnard was now heading to a place of safety. |
"We are cautiously optimistic but until he is there, we are continuing to be concerned," a charity spokesman said. | "We are cautiously optimistic but until he is there, we are continuing to be concerned," a charity spokesman said. |
The Foreign Office said it was in contact with Save the Children and was urgently trying to establish what the situation was. | |
'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. | 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. |
On Sunday, after two days in captivity, Save the Children reported that Mr Barnard was well and being looked after. | On Sunday, after two days in captivity, Save the Children reported that Mr Barnard was well and being looked after. |
The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross said Mr Barnard was freed before dawn on Wednesday after intervention from local officials. | The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross said Mr Barnard was freed before dawn on Wednesday after intervention from local officials. |
He said the head of the local administration had negotiated the release after driving with armed guards for several hours outside the town to reach the armed hostage takers. | He said the head of the local administration had negotiated the release after driving with armed guards for several hours outside the town to reach the armed hostage takers. |
Adado, which is near the Ethiopian border, is also closely linked to pirate groups who routinely take ships and crew hostage. | Adado, which is near the Ethiopian border, is also closely linked to pirate groups who routinely take ships and crew hostage. |
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. Most have been freed unhurt. | Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Somalia in recent years. Most have been freed unhurt. |