Bigley: Family confirms death

2004-10-08 18:47

London - British hostage Kenneth Bigley was killed by his captors in Iraq, his brother, Phil, and the British government said on Friday.

"We can confirm that the family has now received absolute proof that Ken Bigley was executed by his captors," Phil Bigley said in a statement on national television in Britain.

"The family here in Liverpool believe that our government did everything it possibly could to secure the release of Ken in this impossible situation."

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the killing.

"Now that this terrible news has been confirmed, I want to offer the family and friends of Kenneth Bigley my deepest condolences," he said. "This is a barbaric murder following three weeks of terrible suffering for his family."

Bigley was kidnapped in Baghdad on September 16 along with two Americans, Eugene Armstrong, 52, and Jack Hensley, 48. The two Americans were beheaded a few days later.

"It could be that the fate of Ken, Eugene and Jack was sealed from day one. We will never know," Phil Bigley said.

He asked for privacy for the family as they adjust to the news, especially his 86-year-old mother Lily. "Our mother is home from hospital and wants me to thank everyone for all of the kind thoughts and wishes and tell you that she will remain strong for the family.

"For those who have prayed for Ken and our family from all religious backgrounds, we thank you from the bottom of our heart."

Phil Bigley said the members of his family might not all react to the crisis in the same way.

"How we all as individuals handle crisis situations will differ from person to person, family member to family member. It's important to be considerate of one another's view and actions," he said.

In a separate written statement, Kenneth Bigley's other brother, Paul, criticised Prime Minister Tony Blair over the Iraq war.

"Please, please stop this war and prevent other lives being lost. It is illegal and has to stop. Mr. Blair has blood on his hands," said Paul Bigley, who had often appeared on television to make appeals for his brother's release.

As recently as Monday, Paul Bigley had said he believed his brother was now in the hands of a more moderate group in Iraq. His comments came amid media reports in Kuwait claiming that the fundamentalist Tawhid and Jihad group was considering selling him to another militant group.

- AFP