November 07, 2008
Al Qaeda Releases Austrian Hostages
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has released Austrians, Wolfgang Ebner and Andrea Kloiber. The two were freed yesterday after having been held by al Qaeda's North African wing for the past eight months. Despite being fed only bread and water for the past months, the two are said to be in surprisingly good health.
The two appeared in a hostage video (picture above) pleading for Austria to convince Tunisia and Algeria to release al Qaeda prisoners. Andrea Kloiber was forced to cover her face in the video. Al Qaeda had claimed in the video that they would murder the couple if their demands were not met.
A mediator sent in by Tunisia to try to secure the couple's release was murdered by al Qaeda.
Rumor has it that the Austrian government paid between $5 - $8.5 million in ransom demanded by al Qaeda for the couple's release. If so, we have mixed feelings. We're happy the two got out of this ordeal alive, but if the Austrian government did pay a ransom then they will be directly responsible for the kidnapping of further hostages and whoever al Qaeda is able to murder as a result of their new found funds.
The ransom conundrum is always that it helps those immediately in danger, but it puts far more people in danger in the future.
Thanks to Kyros.
Related:
Al Qaeda Releases Pics, Threatens to Murder Austrian Tourists
Good News: Austria to Fund al Qaeda Terrorism
Austrian Hostages Moved to Mali
Proof al Qaeda = Tusken Raiders (Sand People)
Austria Negotiating with al Qaeda Over Hostages
Hostage Negotiator Murdered in Mali
Al-Qaeda Extends Ransom Deadline, Demands $8.3 Million
Al Qaeda Says It's Not Responsible for Fate of Austrian Hostages
Renewed Hopes for Austrian Hostages
AP: al Qaeda "Militants" Won't Kill Hostages ... For Another Week
Austrians in Contact with Kidnapped Tourists
Kidnappers of Austrian Tourists Make New Demands
