Press release

Foreign Secretary statement on Yemen hostage deaths

Philip Hammond condemns Al Qaida's brutal murder of two hostages in Yemen.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Philip Hammond
• Published: 6 December 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond said:

My deepest condolences are with the families of both hostages at this time. We utterly condemn al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for the brutal murder of these two men.

Luke had close links with the UK and his family have spoken about Luke’s life and his work, and that is how he should be remembered.

I salute the forces involved, who showed great courage in carrying out this mission. We continue to work with our international and Yemeni partners to counter the threat from Al Qaida and other terrorist groups.

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Published 6 December 2014