Kidnappers in Philippines release video of beheading of Canadian John Ridsdel
CBC News | Posted: May 3, 2016 1:51 PM | Last Updated: May 3, 2016
Ridsdel, formerly of Alberta, had been held hostage by militants for 7 months and was killed April 25
Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines have released a video that shows the beheading of John Ridsdel, the Canadian they had held hostage for seven months, according to the SITE Intelligence group.
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SITE is a Washington-based group that researches and monitors networks linked to terrorism.
CBC News is not airing the footage.
Ridsdel, a former Alberta resident, was one of four hostages, including fellow Canadian Robert Hall, held by the Abu Sayyaf militants since last September.
Ridsdel, 68, was described as semi-retired and was the former chief operating officer of mining company TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Canada's TVI Pacific, where he was a consultant.
The kidnappers killed Ridsdel, 68, on April 25 after a ransom deadline they issued had lapsed.
The al-Qaeda-linked group has been known to take hostages for years, and currently has more than a dozen foreign hostages, including another Canadian, in their custody.
The RCMP is investigating Ridsdel's death.