Canadian Beheaded in Philippines

Canadian government officials confirm 68-year old John Ridsdel, (right), who was kidnapped from a resort last September has been executed by Islamic militants in the Philippines.  Police on the island of Jolo conducted DNA tests to confirm the identity of a head that was left in a plastic bag on a street by two men who fled on a motorcycle.

Prime Minister Trudeau swiftly condemned the “cold blooded murder” and said his government will work with its international partners to track down the killers.

Ridsdel and Robert Hall, both from Calgary, were being held for multi-million dollar ransoms. The militant group Abu Sayyaf threatened to execute one of the hostages unless their demands were met by 3 pm Manila time.    The condition of Robert Hall and two other hostages — a man from Norway and a Filipino woman — are unknown.

Canada and other western countries consider Abu Sayyaf a terrorist organization.  Its origins can be traced to Al Qaeda.  The group has relied on ransoms for its existence over the past couple of decades.