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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| British hostage David Bolam freed in Libya | British hostage David Bolam freed in Libya |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. | British teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. |
| The Foreign Office said Mr Bolam, who teaches at the International School Benghazi, was "safe and well" and had been reunited with his family. | The Foreign Office said Mr Bolam, who teaches at the International School Benghazi, was "safe and well" and had been reunited with his family. |
| His kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family. | His kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family. |
| It is thought his release was secured by local political factions and that money changed hands. | |
| Video plea | |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley said she understood demands for a ransom had been made to the school and that money was handed over to secure his release. | |
| She said it was "unclear" how much money was paid and who paid it, but the Foreign Office was not involved in the negotiations. | |
| Mr Bolam, who flew back to the UK on Thursday night, appeared in a video posted online on 28 August. | |
| Wearing a white T-shirt and sitting in a concrete room, he appealed to UK Prime Minister David Cameron to secure his release. | Wearing a white T-shirt and sitting in a concrete room, he appealed to UK Prime Minister David Cameron to secure his release. |
| Speaking in English, he said he was in good health and had been held "a very long time." | Speaking in English, he said he was in good health and had been held "a very long time." |
| There had been fears Mr Bolam faced the same fate as British hostages held by Islamic State (IS) militants operating in Syria and Iraq, BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said. | There had been fears Mr Bolam faced the same fate as British hostages held by Islamic State (IS) militants operating in Syria and Iraq, BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said. |
| In recent weeks, IS has released videos showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. | In recent weeks, IS has released videos showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. |
| However, little is known about the group which held Mr Bolam and what their demands might have been, our correspondent added. | However, little is known about the group which held Mr Bolam and what their demands might have been, our correspondent added. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family. |
| "We have been supporting his family since he was taken." | "We have been supporting his family since he was taken." |
| Mr Bolam's family have asked for privacy. | Mr Bolam's family have asked for privacy. |