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British headteacher David Bolam freed by militants in Libya British headteacher David Bolam freed by militants in Libya
(about 3 hours later)
A British headteacher who was held hostage by militants in Libya for five months has been released.A British headteacher who was held hostage by militants in Libya for five months has been released.
David Bolam, the principal at the now-closed International School Benghazi, was abducted while out on a shopping trip in May. David Bolam, the principal at the now-closed International School Benghazi, was abducted while on a shopping trip in May.
He was reunited with his family in the UK on Thursday after local political factions secured his release. The Foreign Office confirmed that it was not involved in the negotiations. He was reunited with his family in the UK on Thursday after local political factions secured his release. The Foreign Office said it was not involved in the negotiations.
Bolam, 53, from Craven Arms, Shropshire, had been held captive for five months in Libya but his abduction was not reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family. Bolam, 53, from Craven Arms, Shropshire, had elected to stay in Benghazi despite a wave of attacks on foreigners, including the murder of the school’s chemistry teacher Ronnie Smith, an American, in December.
Ged O’Connor Challis, who worked with the English teacher at the International School until he left with his wife Siobhan in December 2013, said Bolam was “single-minded and stubborn” and that he had decided to stay in the country despite growing violence. The school announced Bolam’s “disappearance in mysterious circumstances” on its Facebook page on 19 May, days after nationalist forces led by retired general Khalifa Hiftar began attacks and air strikes on Islamist militias.
Since then, the Foreign Office asked news organisations, including the Guardian, not to publish details of the abduction, fearing it could harm negotiations for his release.
Ged O’Connor Challis, who worked with Bolam at the international school until December 2013, said Bolam was “single-minded and stubborn” and had decided to stay in the country despite growing violence.
He told the BBC he had spoken to Bolam on the phone on the morning he was abducted and had later been told by school staff that “one of the local militias had grabbed David as he went out shopping”.He told the BBC he had spoken to Bolam on the phone on the morning he was abducted and had later been told by school staff that “one of the local militias had grabbed David as he went out shopping”.
O’Connor Challis said many teachers had left the school after a “massive gunfight” in November 2013 and the fatal shooting of teacher Ronnie Smith the following month. Bolam, however, decided to stay because he “believed in what he was doing”. O’Connor Challis said many teachers had left the school after a “massive gunfight” in November 2013 and the fatal shooting of Smith the following month. Bolam, however, decided to stay because he “believed in what he was doing”.
“He is single-minded and stubborn,” O’Connor Challis said. “He is a very bright person. He is an English teacher – one of the best I have ever met.”“He is single-minded and stubborn,” O’Connor Challis said. “He is a very bright person. He is an English teacher – one of the best I have ever met.”
On 28 August, Bolam appeared in a video published on the internet pleading for David Cameron to secure his release. On 28 August, Bolam appeared in a video published on the internet pleading for David Cameron to secure his release. Bolam looked dishevelled with an unkempt grey beard and baggy white T-shirt in the video, in which he begged the prime minister to agree to a hostage swap.
Bolam looked dishevelled with an unkempt grey beard and baggy white T-shirt in the video, in which he begged the prime minister to agree to a hostage swap. He said: “I am a British teacher. My health is good at the moment. I have been here a very long time. He said: “I am a British teacher. My health is good at the moment. I have been here a very long time. I ask the British government and prime minister David Cameron … please allow me to go back to my family. I ask my family and friends, and anyone else who hears this, please can you do something to let the government understand I need to go home soon. Please, please do something to help me.”
“I ask the British government and prime minister, David Cameron … please allow me to go back to my family. I ask my family and friends, and anyone else who hears this, please can you do something to let the government understand I need to go home soon. Please, please do something to help me.” In the video he talked about a recent prisoner swap with the US, believed to be the exchange of five Afghan Taliban officials with the captured American soldier Bowe Bergdahl.
In the video he talks about a recent prisoner swap with the US, believed to be the exchange of five Afghan Taliban officials with the captured American soldier Bowe Bergdahl.
It is not known which militant group was holding Bolam, but the video was claimed to have been released by a group that called itself Jeish al-Islam (Army of Islam). However, the SITE intelligence firm, which monitors jihadist groups on the internet, could not verify the militants behind the video when it was released.It is not known which militant group was holding Bolam, but the video was claimed to have been released by a group that called itself Jeish al-Islam (Army of Islam). However, the SITE intelligence firm, which monitors jihadist groups on the internet, could not verify the militants behind the video when it was released.
Michael Aron, the UK’s ambassador to Libya, tweeted after Bolam’s release: “Delighted Benghazi Head Teacher David Bolam has been released after over 4 months in captivity”.Michael Aron, the UK’s ambassador to Libya, tweeted after Bolam’s release: “Delighted Benghazi Head Teacher David Bolam has been released after over 4 months in captivity”.
The Foreign Office 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 do not comment on the detail of hostage cases. The family have asked for privacy.The Foreign Office 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 do not comment on the detail of hostage cases. The family have asked for privacy.
“HMG [her Majesty’s government] does not pay, facilitate, or condone ransom payments, nor make concessions. Our kidnap for ransom policy is clear and longstanding. Ransom payments to terrorists are illegal. We understand that David’s release was agreed between local political factions. HMG was not involved.”“HMG [her Majesty’s government] does not pay, facilitate, or condone ransom payments, nor make concessions. Our kidnap for ransom policy is clear and longstanding. Ransom payments to terrorists are illegal. We understand that David’s release was agreed between local political factions. HMG was not involved.”