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| Luke Somers: British-born photojournalist 'killed by al-Qaeda after failed rescue attempt in Yemen' | Luke Somers: British-born photojournalist 'killed by al-Qaeda after failed rescue attempt in Yemen' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British-born photojournalist has reportedly been killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen during a failed rescue attempt by US special forces. | A British-born photojournalist has reportedly been killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen during a failed rescue attempt by US special forces. |
| Luke Somers, 33, had been held hostage since being kidnapped in the capital, Sana’a, in September 2013 as he left a supermarket. | Luke Somers, 33, had been held hostage since being kidnapped in the capital, Sana’a, in September 2013 as he left a supermarket. |
| His captors had taunted his family after a previous attempt by American and Yemeni forces to free him, saying on Thursday they would execute him within three days if the US did not meet their demands. | His captors had taunted his family after a previous attempt by American and Yemeni forces to free him, saying on Thursday they would execute him within three days if the US did not meet their demands. |
| Al-Qaeda released a video statement from Mr Somers, where he said: “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger." | Al-Qaeda released a video statement from Mr Somers, where he said: “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger." |
| Lucy Somers, his sister, told the Associated Press today that FBI agents informed her he was killed in another failed rescue mission but Washington has not confirmed the claim. | Lucy Somers, his sister, told the Associated Press today that FBI agents informed her he was killed in another failed rescue mission but Washington has not confirmed the claim. |
| "We ask that all of Luke's family members be allowed to mourn in peace," she said. | "We ask that all of Luke's family members be allowed to mourn in peace," she said. |
| Luke Somers appeared in an al-Qaeda video She had released a video pleading with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to let him live, describing her older brother as a romantic who "always believes the best in people". | |
| Mr Somers’ father, Michael, called his son "a good friend of Yemen and the Yemeni people" and asked for his safe release and his mother and brother appealed to his captors to spare him, saying he "was only trying to do good". | Mr Somers’ father, Michael, called his son "a good friend of Yemen and the Yemeni people" and asked for his safe release and his mother and brother appealed to his captors to spare him, saying he "was only trying to do good". |
| No further details have emerged of his death but the Pentagon admitted on Thursday that a secret raid last month had got the wrong location. | No further details have emerged of his death but the Pentagon admitted on Thursday that a secret raid last month had got the wrong location. |
| Special forces arrived at the target location, in a remote al-Qaeda safe haven in the desert near Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia, to find Mr Somers was not there. | Special forces arrived at the target location, in a remote al-Qaeda safe haven in the desert near Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia, to find Mr Somers was not there. |
| The American government considers AQAP to be the world's most dangerous arm of the international terrorist organisation after linking it to several failed attacks on US soil. | |
| Yemeni security forces hold a position as they guard outside a court during a hearing for Al-Qaeda suspects Mr Somers was born in Britain and holds dual US-UK citizenship. Having spent most of his life in the United States, he worked for two years in Yemen as a freelance photojournalist, sub-editor and interpreter for English language newspapers. | |
| News of his death comes after a suspected US drone strike in Yemen killed nine alleged al-Qaeda militants early today, according to security officials. | News of his death comes after a suspected US drone strike in Yemen killed nine alleged al-Qaeda militants early today, according to security officials. |
| The drone struck at dawn in Yemen's southern Shabwa province, hitting a suspected militant hideout. | The drone struck at dawn in Yemen's southern Shabwa province, hitting a suspected militant hideout. |
| Yemen is racked by lawlessness and violence At least six suspected militants were killed in an air strike in the same province last month. | |
| American authorities rarely discuss their controversial drone strike campaign in Yemen, which are known to cause civilian casualties, legitimising violent resistance against US intervention in the country. | American authorities rarely discuss their controversial drone strike campaign in Yemen, which are known to cause civilian casualties, legitimising violent resistance against US intervention in the country. |
| Additional reporting by AP | Additional reporting by AP |