Monday, 24 June 2013 - 08:23
European Hostages Safe, Al-Qaeda-linked group says
An Al-Qaeda associated group in North Africa, responsible for kidnapping eight Europeans, says the captives are safe and a video of them will be released in a short time.
A newly-created AQIM Touareg brigade aims to control a large area of the Sahel (2012)
Magharebia/flickr The group, known as the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), made the announcement on Saturday via Twitter, according to SITE Intelligence Group. AQIM said the hostages are still alive, despite their earlier threats as payback for countries involved in the intervention in Mali. The hostages are from France, Britain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The group allegedly killed a French captive earlier this year. AQIM is one of three Islamic militant groups in northern Mali. In January, France interfered, pushing the radical groups from some of the main northern cities.
Magharebia/flickr The group, known as the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), made the announcement on Saturday via Twitter, according to SITE Intelligence Group. AQIM said the hostages are still alive, despite their earlier threats as payback for countries involved in the intervention in Mali. The hostages are from France, Britain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The group allegedly killed a French captive earlier this year. AQIM is one of three Islamic militant groups in northern Mali. In January, France interfered, pushing the radical groups from some of the main northern cities.
