French hostage Herve Gourdel beheaded in Algeria

[DrLeftover]

24 Sept

France has confirmed that an Algerian jihadist group linked to Islamic State (IS) militants has beheaded tourist Herve Gourdel, seized on Sunday.

Jund al-Khilafa killed Mr Gourdel, 55, after its deadline for France to halt air strikes on IS in Iraq ran out.

French President Francois Hollande condemned the killing as a "cruel and cowardly" act.

He said that French air strikes which began on IS targets in Iraq last week would continue.

Speaking at the UN general assembly, Mr Hollande said that Mr Gourdel's abduction and decapitation was a barbaric act of terrorism which presented a problem not only for the region but also for the world.

He said the fight against terrorism should know no borders and that France was now in mourning.

"It is not weakness that should be the response to terrorism but force," he said.

Jund al-Khilafa posted a video of Mr Gourdel being killed which was entitled "Message of blood for the French government".

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29352537

 

[Nebulous]

Another pleasant news story to digest...

 

[Webster]

Given that Algeria was once, (a)France's largest colony and (b)former home to the French Foreign Legion, I wouldn't want to be in Algeria for the next few months..