2011 Timbuktu kidnapping

Timbuktu three refers to the three kidnap victims, South African Stephen Malcolm McGown, Swede Johan Gustafson and Dutch Sjaak Rijke on 25 November 2011. A fourth German victim was shot, when he refused to climb into their truck.[1]

A unit of the Al-Qaeda’s North African branch: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) abducted the three from a restaurant in Timbuktu, Mali. Because McGowan has duel citizenship, South African & British, the group offered a trade to the British Government for Abu Qatada who was to be deported to Jordan, where he had been convicted of involvement in militant plots.[1]

Since the kidnapping several videos have been released of the three, offered as proof of life.[2][3]

Rijke was rescued by French forces in April 2015. [4]

McGown and Gustafson are still held captive.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "SA citizens under fire in hot spots". IOL. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Graham Smith (22 August 2012). "British hostage held by Al-Qaeda in Mali pleads for government to negotiate for his freedom". dailymail. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "French, Dutch hostages in Mali beg for help". News24. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/dutch-hostage-rescued-by-french-troops-in-mali/ar-AAaudg6?lang=en-ca
  5. ↑ "The Forgotten Three: The Fate of AQIM Timbuktu Hostages and Their Captor Belkacem Zouadi". Geneva Centre for Training and Analysis of Terrorism. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.