Has the BBC’s Alan Johnston been murdered by Palestinian terrorists?
YnetNews:
BBC reporter Alan Johnston has been killed by an al-Qaeda affilated Palestinian organization, according to an internet statement obtained by Ynetnews. The statement was signed by the Palestinian Jihad and Tawheed Brigades, an organization named after an Iraqi al-Qaeda group.
Responding to the statement, the BBC said it is “aware of these reports — but we have no independent verification of them. We are deeply concerned about what we are hearing — but we stress, at this stage, it is rumour with no independent verification.”
In the message, the group said the British and Palestinian governments were responsible for Johnston’s killing, and vowed to release a video of the execution.
Palestinian Authority security officials said Sunday they could neither confirm nor deny reports that kidnapped BBC correspondent Alan Johnston had been executed by his captors in the Gaza Strip.
A hitherto unknown group, calling itself the Tawheed and Jihad Brigades in Palestine, announced in a leaflet that was distributed in Gaza that its members had killed Johnston because of Israel’s refusal to release Palestinian prisoners.
The group, which PA security officials said was linked to al-Qaida, promised to release a video showing the execution of Johnston, 44, who was kidnapped in Gaza City more than a month ago.
The BBC voices concern at reports that reporter Alan Johnston is dead, but stresses there is no verification.