Philippines troops rescue UK hostages

Manila, November 25

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Soldiers in the southern Philippines rescued a British man and woman from members of an Islamist militant group, the army said on Monday, after their captors fled during a military operation.

The couple, Allan and Wilma Hyrons, were abducted at gunpoint by members of the Abu Sayyaf group on October 4 from the resort they ran in a neighbouring province. The Philippine army said they were now being looked after at a military camp, and issued a photograph of the couple, unharmed and eating a meal.

“I am pleased to confirm that both Alan and Wilma Hyrons are safe and well, and being looked after by the Philippine authorities,” Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Abu Sayyaf operates in the Sulu archipelago and has factions loyal to Islamic State that have been linked to at least five suicide bombings in the region in the past 16 months. The group is much feared for its banditry, piracy and kidnap-for-ransom business, with targets that include Europeans as well as seamen from Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Some hostages were held for years and beheaded when ransom was not paid.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has sent more troops into the region to try to wipe out Abu Sayyaf. — Reuters