04/09/2014 10:40
Canadians involved in kidnapping of US citizens in Syria
Three Canadians were directly involved in the kidnapping of two American journalists by Islamic militants in Syria, Agence France-Presse reported Thursday, referring to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, according to RIA Novosti.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation stated that the Canadian citizens drained bank accounts of American captives, named Theo Curtis and Matt Schrier, and forced them to reveal their computer passwords. The Canadians also wrote to the hostages’ families, pretending to speak from their names.
Curtis and Schrier were held in captivity together between 2012 and 2013. Curtis was released by the Al-Nusra Front last month, while Schrier escaped last year.
Ottawa refused to comment on the case, saying that these are “operational matters of national security.”
According to official Ottawa’s statements, around 130 Canadians are currently fighting overseas for Islamist militant groups, but some say that the real figures are much higher.