British hostage David Bolam freed by militants in Libya

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British hostage David Bolam freed by militants in Libya
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11141579/British-hostage-David-Bolam-freed-by-militants-in-Libya.html


British teacher David Bolam has been released and reunited with his family after being held hostage by militants in Libya for four months. A British headteacher who has been held hostage by Islamist militants in Libya has been released.
David Richard Bolam, 53, who worked as the principal at the International School Benghazi in northern Libya, was abducted while out on a shopping trip in May this year.
Mr Bolam, from Craven Arms, Shropshire, was reunited with his family on Thursday night following a four-month ordeal.
Ged O'Connor Challis, who worked with the English teacher at the International School until he left with his wife in December 2013, said Mr Bolam was "single-minded and stubborn" and that he had decided to stay in the country despite growing violence.
He told the BBC he spoke to Mr Bolam on the phone on the morning he was kidnapped, and school staff later said "one of the local militias had grabbed David as he went out shopping".
On August 28, a video of him making a heartfelt plea to Prime Minister David Cameron for his release was published online.
He is seen looking dishevelled with an unkempt white beard in a concrete room dressed in a white t-shirt.
In the video Mr Bolam begged the Prime Minister to reunite him with his family and agree to a hostage swap to secure his release..
He said: "I am a British teacher, my health is good at the moment, I have been here a very long time.
"I ask the British government and Prime Minister David Cameron...please allow me to go back to my family. I ask my family and friends, and anyone else who hears this, please can you do something to let the government understand I need to go home soon. Please, please do something to help me."
In the video he talks about a recent prisoner swap with the US, in possible reference to the exchange of five Afghan Taliban officials with the captured American soldier Bowe Bergdahl.
The SITE intelligence group, which monitors jihadist groups, identified the video when it was posted.
It was claimed to have been released by a group that called itself Jeish al-Islam (Army of Islam) but SITE could not authenticate it due to a lack of information.
It has not been officially confirmed who was holding him hostage.
It is believed his release was secured by local political factions in northern Libya and that money changed hands through unofficial channels as the UK has a policy of not paying ransoms for British hostages.
While many Western hostages held by the Islamic State have been released in return for millions of pounds in random, British and American captives have been held after their government refused demands for money.
More than three years after Libyan ruler Moammer Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, the country's police and army remain weak in comparison with the militias, who control large parts of the country, including its second-biggest city of Benghazi.
The cradle of the uprising against Gaddafi, Benghazi is now regularly the scene not only of fighting but also the murders of members of the security forces, political activists and journalists.
The Foreign Office said in a statement: The Foreign Office have confirmed his release in a statement saying: "We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family."
"We have been supporting his family since he was taken. We do not comment on the detail of hostage cases. The family have asked for privacy at this time."
Michael Aron, the UK's ambassador to Libya, tweeted: "Delighted Benghazi Head Teacher David Bolam has been released after over 4 months in captivity"