British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been executed by his captors in Iraq, Abu Dhabi television reported Friday. An editor at Abu Dhabi TV in the United Arab Emirates said the report was based on "informed sources" in Baghdad.
Some other press reports said the body of the 62-year-old man from Liverpool was found in Baghdad.
Later, a videotape showing Bigley being beheaded by his captors in Iraq was surfaced, a witness who saw the tape said Friday. The witness said the tape shows six hooded, armed men standing behind the kneeling Bigley.
One of the six then spoke for about a minute. Afterward, the speaker took a knife from his belt and severed Bigley's head as three others held him down, the witness said. The tape ends with the killer holding up the severed head.
Bigley was abducted last month in Baghdad along with US construction workers Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong, who were beheaded.
The beheadings were claimed by the Tawhid and Jihad group, led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
