This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29498429

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Bolam freed: Libya hostage's release welcomed David Bolam freed: Libya hostage's release welcomed
(about 1 hour later)
The release of a British teacher held hostage in Libya since May has been welcomed after he returned to the UK.The release of a British teacher held hostage in Libya since May has been welcomed after he returned to the UK.
David Bolam was "safe and well" after his release, the Foreign Office said.David Bolam was "safe and well" after his release, the Foreign Office said.
Shropshire MP Philip Dunne said he was "absolutely delighted that David Bolam has returned home to his family in Craven Arms" and the UK's ambassador to Libya also said he was delighted.Shropshire MP Philip Dunne said he was "absolutely delighted that David Bolam has returned home to his family in Craven Arms" and the UK's ambassador to Libya also said he was delighted.
It is thought the 63-year-old's release was secured by local political factions and that money changed hands.It is thought the 63-year-old's release was secured by local political factions and that money changed hands.
Mr Bolam's kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family.Mr Bolam's kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family.
Ambassador Michael Aron tweeted: "Delighted Benghazi Head Teacher David Bolam has been released after over 4 months in captivity."Ambassador Michael Aron tweeted: "Delighted Benghazi Head Teacher David Bolam has been released after over 4 months in captivity."
Mr Dunne, a defence minister, said he had been in touch with Mr Bolam's family during his ordeal.Mr Dunne, a defence minister, said he had been in touch with Mr Bolam's family during his ordeal.
He added: "David is a dedicated English teacher who had returned to Benghazi to help rebuild the international school of which he was a director, after he had been evacuated during the Arab Spring.‎He added: "David is a dedicated English teacher who had returned to Benghazi to help rebuild the international school of which he was a director, after he had been evacuated during the Arab Spring.‎
"He was trying to help young people in Libya gain a good education.""He was trying to help young people in Libya gain a good education."
Video pleaVideo plea
Mr Bolam, who flew back to the UK on Thursday night, had been working in Libya for seven years.Mr Bolam, who flew back to the UK on Thursday night, had been working in Libya for seven years.
He had appeared in a video posted online on 28 August. He was seized by gunmen in May at a checkpoint in Benghazi.
He had appeared in a video posted online on 28 August published by a group calling itself the Army of Islam.
Wearing a white T-shirt and sitting in a concrete room, he appealed to Prime Minister David Cameron to secure his release.Wearing a white T-shirt and sitting in a concrete room, he appealed to Prime Minister David Cameron to secure his release.
He said he was in good health and had been held "a very long time." He said he was in good health and had been held "a very long time".
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.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.She said it was "unclear" how much money was paid and who paid it, but the Foreign Office was not involved in the negotiations.
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. Benghazi - where the uprising against Muammar al-Gaddafi began - is now a chaotic place "where Islamist militias and criminal gangs abound," she added.
News of Mr Bolam's release comes after a number of hostages held by Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq were killed.
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 may have been, our security correspondent added.
Charlie Cooper of counter-extremism think tank the Quilliam Foundation said the difference between the treatment of Mr Bolam and Mr Henning was "indicative of the huge difference between other jihadist groups and Islamic State".Charlie Cooper of counter-extremism think tank the Quilliam Foundation said the difference between the treatment of Mr Bolam and Mr Henning was "indicative of the huge difference between other jihadist groups and Islamic State".
He told BBC Breakfast: "Islamic State is profoundly more extreme in its outlook and in its ideological motivations."He told BBC Breakfast: "Islamic State is profoundly more extreme in its outlook and in its ideological motivations."
Caroline Hawley says Benghazi - where the uprising against Muammar al-Gaddafi began - is now a chaotic place "where Islamist militias and criminal gangs abound".
'Massive gunfight''Massive gunfight'
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."
Ged O'Connor Challis taught at the international school along with his wife Siobhan until December 2013, so had left by the time Mr Bolam was abducted in May.Ged O'Connor Challis taught at the international school along with his wife Siobhan until December 2013, so had left by the time Mr Bolam was abducted in May.
He said he had spoken to Mr Bolam on the phone on the morning he was kidnapped, and school staff later said "one of the local militias had grabbed David as he went out shopping".He said he had spoken to Mr Bolam on the phone on the morning he was kidnapped, and school staff later said "one of the local militias had grabbed David as he went out shopping".
Mr O'Connor Challis, who now lives in Manchester, said Mr Bolam stayed in Libya when other staff left because he "believed in what he was doing".Mr O'Connor Challis, who now lives in Manchester, said Mr Bolam stayed in Libya when other staff left because he "believed in what he was doing".
"He is single-minded and stubborn," he said."He is single-minded and stubborn," he said.
"He is a very bright person. He is an English teacher - one of the best I have ever met.""He is a very bright person. He is an English teacher - one of the best I have ever met."
Teachers had wanted to stay at the school, Mr O'Connor Challis said, but a "massive gunfight" in November 2013 and the fatal shooting of teacher Ronnie Smith in December were part of growing violence which convinced many to leave.Teachers had wanted to stay at the school, Mr O'Connor Challis said, but a "massive gunfight" in November 2013 and the fatal shooting of teacher Ronnie Smith in December were part of growing violence which convinced many to leave.