THE kidnappers of Alan Johnston last night released a video of the abducted BBC journalist wearing what appeared to be a suicide bomber's explosive belt, which he said they had threatened to detonate if any attempt were made to free him by force. The poor-quality video shows the journalist looking pale, with a blue and white device hanging from his body by two black straps. Johnston recites a script blaming Hamas and the British Government for a breakdown in talks with his captors, Jaish al-Islam (the Army of Islam).
Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British Government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping and the situation is now very serious, the BBC Gaza correspondent says in the footage, released on a website. As you can see, I've been dressed in what is an explosive belt, which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there's any attempt to storm this area. They say they are ready to turn the hideout into what they describe as a death zone if there's an attempt to free me by force.
The message emerged several days after leaders of Hamas, which has seized control of the Gaza Strip, threatened the gang led by Mumtaz Dagmoush with attack if it did not free Johnston. I do appeal to the Hamas movement and the British Government not to resort to the tactics of force in an effort to end this, Johnston says. I would ask the BBC and anyone in Britain who wishes me well to support me in that appeal.
It seems the answer is to return to negotiations, which I'm told are very close to achieving a deal. Johnston was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip 106 days ago by the previously unknown radical Islamist group. Ismail Haniya, the Hamas prime minister sacked by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after the Gaza fighting, said Johnston must be released.
We will not allow the continuation of the abduction of the British journalist. The issue of Alan Johnston must end, Mr Abbas said. The BBC said: It is very distressing for Alan's family and colleagues to see him being threatened in this way.
We ask those holding Alan to avoid him being harmed by releasing him immediately. THE kidnappers of Alan Johnston last night released a video of the abducted BBC journalist wearing what appeared to be a suicide bomber's explosive belt, which he said they had threatened to detonate if any attempt were made to free him by force.
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