A group of Islamist terrorists have killed a Canadian businessman in the Philippines after a deadline to pay a ransom expired.
John Ridsdel, 68, was one of four tourists captured by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines in September 2015.
While spending his vacation in the Philippines, Ridsdel, a 68-year-old former mining executive, was captured along with several others by the militants in September 2015.
On Monday, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, confirmed Risdel’s death, after a severed head was found on a remote Philippine island on Monday, just five hours after the deadline for a $6.4million (Rs 42.68 crore) ransom set by the terrorists expired.
Trudeau described Risdel’s death as “an act of cold blooded murder.” “I am outraged by the news that a Canadian citizen held hostage has been killed,” he said.
“Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death. This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage. The government of Canada is committed to working with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for this heinous act,” the prime minister added.
In a statement, Ridsdel’s family said they were devastated his life had been “cut tragically short by this senseless act of violence despite us doing everything within our power to bring him home”.
Abu Sayyaf is a small but brutal militant group known for beheading, kidnapping, bombing and extortion in the south of the mainly Catholic country. Abu Sayyaf pledged allegiance first to Al Qaeda and now Islamic State.
They are also holding other foreigners, including one from the Netherlands, one from Japan, four Malaysians and 14 Indonesian tugboat crew.
Image: John Ridsdel was taken hostage while he was spending his vacation in Philippines in September 2015.
