Two More UK Hostages Believed Dead

Al Jazeera and BBC are reporting that two more of the original five British hostages seized at the Finance Ministry in 2007 are likely dead. Remains of two hostages, Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell, both security personnel, were turned over to British authorities in June. It is now believed that Alec MacLachlan and Alan McMenemy have been killed as well.

UK hostages 'killed in Iraq'
Al Jazeera, July 29, 2009

Two more British hostages held in Iraq are "very likely" to have been killed by their captors, meaning four of a group of five Britons seized in May 2007 are now dead, the UK prime minister has said.

Gordon Brown said his government was "doing everything that we can" to gain the release of Peter Moore, the final hostage, whom he believed to still be alive.

The four hostages were all working as security guards for Moore, who was employed as a contractor in Iraq, when they were kidnapped in the Iraqi finance ministry by around 40 heavily-armed fighters posing as security personnel.

Anguish at hostage death reports
BBC, July 29, 2009

The families of five Britons kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 say they are "deeply upset" to hear two more of the men are likely to have died in captivity.

Government sources say security guards Alan McMenemy and Alec Maclachlan are believed dead. The bodies of two men shot dead have already been released.

Gordon Brown said the fifth man, Peter Moore, was believed to be alive and made a fresh appeal for his release.

Related

Bodies of Two UK Hostages Identified
June 21, 2009