Soldiers carrying bodies to a military helicopter in Sulu, in the Philippines, on 31 May 2019 after an operation in which Ewold Horn was killed. Photograph: Ho Handout/EPA

A gun battle in the Philippines killed a Dutch hostage

Ewold Horn, a Dutch birdwatcher held by Islamic State-linked militants was killed on Friday in the southern Philippines during a firefight between his kidnappers and soldiers.

Abu Sayyaf had hostage Horn since 2012 and was fatally wounded after a 90-minute gun battle with the jihadist in Sulu province, Jojo island. One of the Philippine armies, Brig Gen Divino Rey Pabayo said that Horn was shot by one of his guards when he tried to escape from Abu Sayyaf during the gunfight. Horn’s death has been confirmed by the Dutch foreign ministry.

Horn was abducted by unknown gunmen along with Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a Swiss national, and handed over to the Abu Sayyaf when he was on an expedition to photograph rare birds on Tawi-Tawi island in the southern Philippines.
Salvador Panelo, president Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said in a statement that they wanted to express deep condolences to Horn’s family and vow to pursue his killers to the ends until they are brought to justice.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be the group behind the January bombing of a Catholic cathedral during Sunday mass which killed 20 people. Isis then claimed the bombing after maintaining a presence in the Philippines. Abu Sayyad was very active in the Philippines, supporting Isis’s violent activities.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/31/dutch-hostage-killed-in-philippines-during-gun-battle