16/04/2007

Militants claim to have killed BBC journalist

Concern was mounting last night for BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, after an unknown militant group claimed to have killed him.

The BBC said they were "deeply concerned".

In a statement released yesterday, The Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad said they killed him to support demands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The Palestinian government said there was no evidence to support the claim.

44-year-old Johnston was kidnapped five weeks ago as he drove from his office in Gaza City.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of these reports and are urgently looking into them."

(CD/JM)

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