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| Luke Somers: British-born photojournalist killed by al-Qaeda during Yemen rescue attempt | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British-born photojournalist has 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. |
| An official told the New York Times that Mr Somers was shot by his captors as the overnight raid unfolded and was badly wounded when the commandos reached him. | |
| By the time Mr Somers was flown to a United States naval ship in the region, he had died from his injuries, the source said. | By the time Mr Somers was flown to a United States naval ship in the region, he had died from his injuries, the source said. |
| The outgoing US Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, said Mr Somers and "a second non-US citizen hostage were murdered” by al-Qaeda militants. | |
| “Yesterday by the order of the president of the United States, US special operations forces conducted a mission in Yemen to rescue a US citizen Luke Somers and any other foreign nationals held hostage with him,” he said during a visit to Afghanistan. “There were compelling reasons to believe Somers' life was in imminent danger.” | |
| 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. |
| Luke Somers appeared in an al-Qaeda video 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 that FBI agents informed her he was killed on Saturday. | |
| "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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| According to a statement on the website of Yemen's defence ministry, a hostage rescue attempt on Saturday morning was successful. | According to a statement on the website of Yemen's defence ministry, a hostage rescue attempt on Saturday morning was successful. |
| A drone struck a suspected AQAP hideout at dawn in Yemen's southern Shabwa province, it said, and a subsequent raid freed an unnamed US hostage and killed 10 extremists. | A drone struck a suspected AQAP hideout at dawn in Yemen's southern Shabwa province, it said, and a subsequent raid freed an unnamed US hostage and killed 10 extremists. |
| It is believed the inconsistency arose because Mr Somers did not die until after he was pulled out and taken into the care of American forces. | It is believed the inconsistency arose because Mr Somers did not die until after he was pulled out and taken into the care of American forces. |
| Yemeni security forces hold a position as they guard outside a court during a hearing for Al-Qaeda suspects No further details have emerged of Saturday's operation but the Pentagon admitted on Thursday that a secret raid last month had got the wrong location. | Yemeni security forces hold a position as they guard outside a court during a hearing for Al-Qaeda suspects No further details have emerged of Saturday's operation but the Pentagon admitted on Thursday that a secret raid last month had got the wrong location. |
| Special forces arrived at the target, 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, 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Yemen is racked by lawlessness and violence 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. | Yemen is racked by lawlessness and violence 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. |
| Al-Qaeda and Islamist militants have gained a foothold in large parts of southern and eastern Yemen, where the government is struggling to exert control outside main cities. | Al-Qaeda and Islamist militants have gained a foothold in large parts of southern and eastern Yemen, where the government is struggling to exert control outside main cities. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |