Stephen McGown, Johan Gustafsson, Sjaak Rijke | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Known for | Being kidnapped by AQIM militants |
Timbuktu three refers to three abductees, South African Stephen Malcolm McGown, Swede Johan Gustafsson and Dutchman Sjaak Rijke, who were all kidnapped on 25 November 2011. A fourth German victim was shot and killed when he refused to climb into the kidnappers' truck.[1]
A unit of the Al-Qaeda's North African branch: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) abducted the three from a residence shortly after eating lunch at a restaurant in Timbuktu, Mali. Because McGown has dual citizenship, South African & British, the group offered a trade to the British Government for Abu Qatada who was to be deported to Jordan, where he had been convicted of involvement in militant plots.[1]
Following the kidnapping, several videos were released of the three, offered as proof of life.[2]
Rijke was rescued by French forces in April 2015.[3] Gustafsson was released in June 2017,[4] and McGown was released in July 2017.[5]
- ^ a b "SA citizens under fire in hot spots". IOL. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "French, Dutch hostages in Mali beg for help". News24. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ Hinnant, Lori (6 April 2015). "French forces rescue Dutch hostage in Mali". The Independent. The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Hannes Lundberg Andersson (26 June 2017). "Kidnappade Johan Gustafsson frisläppt – togs av al-Qaida 2011". Expressen (in Swedish).
- ^ "SA hostage in Mali released". 3 August 2017.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search