Al-Qaeda claims kidnap of Australians in Burkina Faso

An al-Qaeda tied group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of an Australian couple last month near Burkina Faso’s border with Mali. Dr Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who are in their 80s, were abducted from the northern town of Djibo on January 15. In a purported audio message, al-Mourabitoun, a branch of the […]

An al-Qaeda tied group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of an Australian couple last month near Burkina Faso’s border with Mali.
Dr Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who are in their 80s, were abducted from the northern town of Djibo on January 15. In a purported audio message, al-Mourabitoun, a branch of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group, said on Friday it had decided to release the wife unconditionally.  “It is our religious duty to respect the civilians, based on the Prophet’s Hadith on not harming women, the elderly and the children and based on the guidance by our commanders,” Telegram channel said.