Kidnapped Finns And Austrian Hostages Freed From Yemen

Remember that Austrian and Finnish couple that were kidnapped from an electronics store in Sanaa,Yemen late last year?   And the al-Qaeda-linked captors even had the Austrian, Dominik Neubauer, plead for his life on video in February, 2013 in exchange for particular ransom demands? Lucky for them, they have finally been freed  on the border of Oman.

No details other than residents in Hawf, the village on the Oman border where they wound up, helped free them.

“The three hostages were released overnight Wednesday and they are now with Omani authorities,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

“They were kidnapped by al-Qaeda militants,” the official added.

[snip]

There was no immediate confirmation from Oman about their whereabouts.

At the end of March, the foreign minister of Finland held talks in Sanaa with President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi about the fate of the hostages.

[snip]

Most kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen are carried out by members of its powerful tribes who use them as bargaining chips in disputes with the central government.

Hundreds of people have been abducted over the past 15 years. Almost all have been freed unharmed.

I'm thinking they will think twice about traveling to the hell holes of the world.

Austrian Hostage In Yemen Pleads For His Life In Video

Remember the three fools who were kidnapped in Yemen last December: two males, an Austrian and a guy from Finland, were in Sanaa studying Arabic, the woman (also a Finn) was traveling with the Finnish guy? It appears that Dominik Neubauer, the Austrian, has surfaced in the video below, pleading for his life. He claims his captors have told him he has a week for a ransom to be paid or he'll be executed. With a gun pointed at his neck, he tearfully speaks in both English and German, telling his mum, dad and siblings (I assume) how much he loves them.

“My name is Dominik Neubauer. I’m an Austrian citizen. I’ve been taken hostage on the 21st of December 2012 by a Yemeni tribe. I appeal to the Yemeni government, to the Austrian government and to all the governments concerned and to the European Union to give them what they want. Otherwise, they will kill me seven days after this video is published,” the 26-year-old Arabic studies student said in the video posted on Feb. 21, 2013.

I find it odd, though, that he says he is being held by a Yemeni tribe, and yet the Yemeni goverment has stated that the tribesmen who initially abducted the three foreigners sold them to al-Qaeda. And what's with the pretty floral background? That doesn't seem very militant to me.

The Austrian government believes the video is for real, but has said they will not be blackmailed when they are not sure who exactly is holding him captive.

Both the Finnish and Austrian governments are dealing with the issue.

Perhaps this will convince people that they should not be traveling to dangerous places like Yemen.

Al-Qaeda In Yemen Offers Gold For Killing U.S. Ambassador and Soldiers

Libyan militants were so successful in eliminating U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi that Yemen's Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is getting into the action. Ambassador Gerald M. Feierstein is worth $160,000 in gold (3 kilograms), and any dead U.S. soldier in that country will be worth 5 million Yemeni riyals (approx. $23,00). But to hasten the event, just like a coupon, they only have 6 months to do it.

The bounties were set to "inspire and encourage our Muslim nation for jihad," the Al Qaeda statement said, according to the AP.

Washington considers Al Qaeda in Yemen to be the group's most dangerous branch.

According to the U.S. Embassy website, Feierstein was sworn in on Sept. 17, 2010, as the U.S. ambassador to Yemen. Prior to his appointment, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Feierstein, who entered the Foreign Service in 1975, is a specialist in Near East and South Asian affairs. He has served overseas in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Pakistan, Tunisia, Lebanon and Oman.

Ah yes, #myjihad.

The U.S. State Department better ramp up security in Sanaa or get the Ambassador the hell out of that country.

Stupid Tourists Traveling To Dangerous Places- 2 Finns and 1 Austrian Abducted In Yemen

There are certain countries in the world that should be off limits to anyone with a brain and no pressing need to travel there. In this day and age, many of those are located in the greater Middle East. Some might have been considered relatively safe for tourists prior to the Arab Spring, but not so much any longer. And with al-Qaeda's rise to prominence in some of those countries- Yemen comes to mind- one would think that people would cross those places off their bucket list, but no. I'm sure three people right now are wishing they had done so.

It seems an Austrian and Finnish man, and a Finnish woman are the latest kidnapping victims of al-Qaeda. This time in Yemen. Apparently the three were allegedly abducted by AQAP in Sanaa as they were about to head on down to the southern port of Aden.  The south happens to be a haven for al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), they have kidnapped many before, including Saudi Diplomat Abdallah al-Khalidi who has not been seen since March, but this obviously was not a deterrent to the fearless three.

But these abductions are not recent events. Back in 1998 a bunch of tourists were kidnapped and some killed in the battle between Yemeni troops trying to rescue them and the militants holding them hostage. The UK still advises its citizens not to travel there. So does Australia and the U.S., and I would venture to say most countries have similar travel advisories.

The two males were in Sanaa supposedly studying Arabic. Couldn't they have signed up for Rosetta Stone, or at least found a less dangerous location to learn Arabic?  They do exist. And the female had just arrived in Yemen. An incredibly stupid place for a woman to travel alone, though I assume she must have known the other Finn.

According to a Yemeni official, in  a bid to free imprisoned fellow militants al-Qaeda had said they would abduct foreigners and "stage bank hold ups."

Although I hope the three are freed, they have no-one to blame but themselves.

Source: Al Arabiya

Suicide Bombers Wanted- Al Qaeda Places Internet Ads For Shahids

Unemployed? Tired of the planet? Want your 72 virgins now? Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (out of Yemen- the latest hotbed of terrorism) is looking for a few good men to train as suicide bombers. According to Al Arabiya, Internet ads have been popping up on jihadi on line forums asking for volunteers to contact them for further information through email. Targets: in order of importance the U.S., Israel, France and Britain. No mention of any other evil Western nations.

They want to know about your experience and who you want dead.

You can find those ads on Honein, al-Fidaa and Shmoukh al-Islam.

According to the ads,

“The aim of this training is to continue with our brothers who are seeking to carry out operations that make for great killing and slaughtering of the enemies of Islam."

“It is clear now that the individual jihad, or what is called the lone wolf, has become more widespread and its features have started showing -- in summary, it is a complete jihadist operation to be carried out by a single bomber.”

I guess the babies they are raising for jihad aren't old enough yet to serve as suicide bombers.

Pathetic.