France’s Hollande confirms death of French hostage in Algeria

PARIS – INTERNATIONAL NEWS – “Herve Gourdel was killed because he was French” – so says French President Francois Hollande.

Just hours after amateur video emerged purporting to show the beheading of Gourdel, a visibly shaken Hollande addressed a news conference in New York to confirm his nation’s worst fears.

“Our compatriot Herve Gourdel has been assassinated by a group of terrorists..cruelly, and without shame.”

French national Gourdel was kidnapped in eastern Algerian village on Sunday by a group calling themselves the Caliphate Soldiers, self-declared allies of Islamic State.

In their first video, released on Tuesday, they threatened to kill Gourdel if France did not stop its military assault on Islamic State. In their second video, the threat was carried out.

Sources: Reuters