Australian physician freed through al Qaeda after 7 years in captivity. News24

This video snatch made on July 2, 2017 from a video equipped through the SITE Intelligence Group displays aged Australian surgeon Arthur Kenneth Elliott, one of the vital six hostages held through Al-Qaeda’s Mali department.

An Australian physician held captive through al Qaeda-linked extremists for greater than seven years in West Africa has been launched, the Australian executive mentioned on Friday.

Dr Kenneth Elliott, 88, is protected and smartly, and were reunited together with his spouse, Jocelyn, and their youngsters, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong mentioned.

The couple have been seized in January 2016 from Djibo, close to Burkina Faso’s border with Mali, the place they’ve operated a 120-bed health facility for greater than 40 years.

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Jocelyn Elliott was once freed after 3 weeks. Al Qaeda within the Islamic Maghreb then mentioned it had abducted the couple and would liberate the girl unconditionally as a result of public force and steerage from leaders to not contain girls in struggle.

“At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength. We thank you for your understanding and sympathy,” his circle of relatives mentioned in a observation.

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