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| Qaeda Group in Yemen Threatens to Kill American Journalist | Qaeda Group in Yemen Threatens to Kill American Journalist |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The affiliate of Al Qaeda in Yemen is threatening to kill an American journalist it is holding hostage by the end of the week unless its demands are met, according to a video posted Wednesday night on YouTube. | WASHINGTON — The affiliate of Al Qaeda in Yemen is threatening to kill an American journalist it is holding hostage by the end of the week unless its demands are met, according to a video posted Wednesday night on YouTube. |
| In the video, the hostage identifies himself as Luke Somers, 33, a photojournalist who was kidnapped in Sana, the Yemeni capital, in September 2013. | In the video, the hostage identifies himself as Luke Somers, 33, a photojournalist who was kidnapped in Sana, the Yemeni capital, in September 2013. |
| Mr. Somers, wearing glasses and a purple shirt, appeared composed as he directly addressed the camera. | Mr. Somers, wearing glasses and a purple shirt, appeared composed as he directly addressed the camera. |
| “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation,” he said. “I’m certain that my life is in danger. So as I sit here now, I ask, if anything can be done, please let it be done. Thank you very much.” | |
| The video was the first public appearance by Mr. Somers, who had worked as a freelance editor and photographer in Yemen, since his disappearance more than a year ago. Its timing suggested a reaction to a rescue attempt on Nov. 25, a joint raid by American commandos and Yemeni troops on a cave in a remote part of Yemen, where Mr. Somers was believed to be held. | The video was the first public appearance by Mr. Somers, who had worked as a freelance editor and photographer in Yemen, since his disappearance more than a year ago. Its timing suggested a reaction to a rescue attempt on Nov. 25, a joint raid by American commandos and Yemeni troops on a cave in a remote part of Yemen, where Mr. Somers was believed to be held. |
| The video also shows a leader of the Qaeda affiliate, identified as Nasr bin Ali al-Ansi, who said that Mr. Somers would meet his “inevitable fate” in three days if the terrorist group’s demands were not met. | The video also shows a leader of the Qaeda affiliate, identified as Nasr bin Ali al-Ansi, who said that Mr. Somers would meet his “inevitable fate” in three days if the terrorist group’s demands were not met. |
| “We warn Obama and the American government of the consequences of proceeding ahead in any other foolish action,” he said. | “We warn Obama and the American government of the consequences of proceeding ahead in any other foolish action,” he said. |
| Mr. Ansi was vague about the details of the group’s demands, saying only that they were “well known.” | Mr. Ansi was vague about the details of the group’s demands, saying only that they were “well known.” |
| The video’s existence was first reported by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activity online. | The video’s existence was first reported by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activity online. |
| An investigation this year by The New York Times found that Al Qaeda and its direct affiliates have taken in at least $125 million in revenue from kidnappings since 2008, of which $66 million was paid in 2013. | An investigation this year by The New York Times found that Al Qaeda and its direct affiliates have taken in at least $125 million in revenue from kidnappings since 2008, of which $66 million was paid in 2013. |
| The investigation found that the payments were made almost exclusively by European governments. Mr. Somers was born in Britain, but said in the video that he has lived most of his life in the United States and is an American citizen. | The investigation found that the payments were made almost exclusively by European governments. Mr. Somers was born in Britain, but said in the video that he has lived most of his life in the United States and is an American citizen. |
| Britain and the United States do not pay ransom for kidnapped citizens. Two British aid workers were executed in recent months by the Islamic State because of a failure to pay ransom. | |
| The Somers video was made public eight days after the rescue of eight of the terrorist group’s hostages who were being held in the cave in eastern Yemen. | The Somers video was made public eight days after the rescue of eight of the terrorist group’s hostages who were being held in the cave in eastern Yemen. |
| An American journalist was among the hostages that the American and Yemeni forces had hoped to rescue, according to officials from both countries. | An American journalist was among the hostages that the American and Yemeni forces had hoped to rescue, according to officials from both countries. |
| When the rescuers arrived, Mr. Somers was not among the hostages whom the commandos had managed to free. Yemeni military officials said that Mr. Somers and several other hostages might have been moved two days before the rescue attempt, citing the account of one of the freed hostages. Six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian were rescued unharmed, Yemeni officials said in a statement. | When the rescuers arrived, Mr. Somers was not among the hostages whom the commandos had managed to free. Yemeni military officials said that Mr. Somers and several other hostages might have been moved two days before the rescue attempt, citing the account of one of the freed hostages. Six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian were rescued unharmed, Yemeni officials said in a statement. |
| Mr. Somers was believed to be among a group that included citizens of Britain, South Africa and Turkey. A Yemeni electricity company worker, Rasheed al-Habishi, was also thought to be among the hostages who were moved. | Mr. Somers was believed to be among a group that included citizens of Britain, South Africa and Turkey. A Yemeni electricity company worker, Rasheed al-Habishi, was also thought to be among the hostages who were moved. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Habishi’s son said that his father’s body had been found in a town not far from where the raid took place. | On Thursday, Mr. Habishi’s son said that his father’s body had been found in a town not far from where the raid took place. |
| The captives were being held in Hadhramaut, Yemen’s largest province, which is largely beyond the government’s control. It has been hit repeatedly by missile-firing United States drones. | The captives were being held in Hadhramaut, Yemen’s largest province, which is largely beyond the government’s control. It has been hit repeatedly by missile-firing United States drones. |
| Mr. Somers’s family did not respond to previous emails seeking comment on his captivity. | |
| Mr. Somers had been working in Yemen for several years before his kidnapping, including as an editor at several local English-language publications and as a respected freelance photographer. | Mr. Somers had been working in Yemen for several years before his kidnapping, including as an editor at several local English-language publications and as a respected freelance photographer. |
| An article about him this week in National Yemen, a local newspaper, said he was “known as the most active photojournalist at Change Square,” a reference to the main protest site during Yemen’s 2011 uprising against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. | An article about him this week in National Yemen, a local newspaper, said he was “known as the most active photojournalist at Change Square,” a reference to the main protest site during Yemen’s 2011 uprising against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. |