An Australian soccer coach held hostage by an Islamic extremest group in Yemen since last year has been released after a terrifying seven months in captivity.
Craig McAllister, 56, was kidnapped in October by an unnamed group that demanded a ransom from the Australian government for his release.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Mr McAllister is now ‘safe and well’ following months of work by the federal government.
She thanked the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, for Oman’s work to find Mr McAllister and take him in.
I deeply appreciate the efforts of officials from across government – who continue to provide the family assistance – and of many other parties in Australia and overseas,’ she said in a statement on Wednesday night.
‘The government will not be making any further comment on this case in order to protect other Australians who remain captive overseas or face the risk of kidnapping.’
She said Australians were strongly discouraged from travelling to Yemen given the high risk of kidnapping.
The Omani foreign ministry said Mr McAllister was found with the help of local tribesmen, state news agency ONA reports.
Oman said it had been making efforts to find him on behalf of the Australian government and that Mr McAllister was taken to Oman on Sunday in preparation for his return home.
The football coach appeared in a video recording last year pleading the government to pay a ransom.
The 56-year-old did not identify which group was holding him in Yemen, south of Saudi Arabia, but a colleague told EFE it was an Islamist group.
‘I have been working as a football coach… At the moment I am kidnapped by a group here,’ Mr McAllister said.
‘They are requesting that the Australian government send the money they have requested.’
Mr McAllister had been working with a charitable Christian group devoted for humanitarian work in Asia and Europe.
Source: Craig McAllister freed after being held hostage in Yemen | Daily Mail Online
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