Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his “outrage” Monday following news that Canadian hostage John Ridsdel was beheaded by suspected Islamist militants in the Philippines.
“Canada condemns withour reservation the brutality of the hostage takers and this unnecessary death,” sombre-looking Trudeau told reporters from a cabinet retreat in Kananaskis, Alberta. “This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.”
Canada is committed to working with the government of Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for “this heinous act” and bring them to justice, Trudeau said.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ridsdel,” Trudeau said.
Canadian officials will not comment or release any information, which may compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of the remaining hostages, Trudeau said.
Ransom deadline expired
It is believed Ridsdel was executed after a deadline to pay a ransom lapsed, Philippine police said.
The German news agency, dpa, reported Monday that a severed head was found in a village on Jolo Island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, four hours after the deadline set by the captors believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
“The head was placed in plastic and we need to search for the body and (conduct) DNA testing,” Chief Inspector Junpikar Sittin, chief of police in Jolo, was quoted by the news agency.
The foreign hostages – Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad – were abducted with Filipino Marites Flor on September 21 from the southern resort island of Samal.
Ridsdel, 68, is described as semi-retired. He is the former chief operating officer of mining company TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Canada’s TVI Pacific.
On April 15, the captors warned they would behead one of the hostages if a ransom of 300 million pesos (6.52 million dollars) for each of them was not paid by Monday.
The amount was down from the initial 1 billion pesos for each of them.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the Philippines. It has also been responsible for high-profile kidnappings involving foreign hostages.
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