UK hostage killed during rescue bid

AP

A British hostage was "murdered" by his captors in Nigeria on Thursday when an attempted rescue operation involving UK special forces ended in tragedy.

Chris McManus, who was working in the country as a building firm contractor, was killed alongside an Italian colleague as Nigerian troops and British Special Boat Service (SBS) commandos launched a failed mission in West Africa.

The UK national had been held by terrorists associated with Islamist extremist group Boko Haram since May last year after being kidnapped from his apartment by gunmen.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr McManus and co-worker Franco Lamolinara had been in "imminent and growing danger" and an opportunity had arisen to attempt to rescue them. But he faced criticism after it emerged that Italian authorities were not notified about the covert operation until it was under way.

Mr Cameron said: "The terrorists holding the two hostages made very clear threats to take their lives, including in a video that was posted on the internet. Preparations were made to mount an operation to attempt to rescue Chris and Franco. Together with the Nigerian government, I authorised it to go ahead, with UK support."

Exact details of how Mr McManus died remain unclear, but Mr Cameron said initial indications were that the contractor and Mr Lamolinara were "murdered by their captors, before they could be rescued". A Nigerian official claimed the two died in a crossfire during the rescue attempt, but the UK said it was awaiting further details.

It is believed members of the SBS were involved in the operation, which unfolded in the city of Sokoto, a city in the north-west of Nigeria, along with Royal Marine Commandos and members of the Nigerian military. There were reports of a house being surrounded by military and the sounds of gunfire heard before an ambulance was called, according to Associated Press (AP).

Mr Cameron offered his "sincerest condolences" to the families of the hostages, saying they had "endured a terrible ordeal" after details of the failed mission emerged. In a statement, the family of Mr McManus said they were "devastated by the news of Chris' death" but confident "everything that could be done was being done" during their 10-month ordeal.

Mr McManus, a contract worker for the construction company B.Stabilini, was kidnapped by a "horde of gunmen" in May last year. Raiders stormed his apartment in Birnin-Kebbi, in the north-west of the country, and captured him along with Mr Lamolinara. A German colleague escaped by scaling a wall but a Nigerian engineer was shot and wounded in the raid.

The men were in the city building a bank.


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