The Alan Johnston affair just got messier. His captors demand the release of Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman whose bomb belt failed to detonate during a suicide bombing at an Amman hotel in 2005. The Sunday Times writes:
Any link to Rishawi’s case would suggest that the kidnappers were more than mere criminals seeking a ransom, as some analysts have speculated. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the late former leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, claimed he was behind the bombing in which she took part.
Britain is still smarting from the capture of 15 sailors by Iranian forces. Judging from UK outrage over last month’s Daniele Mastrogiacomo affair — five imprisoned Taliban terrorists were released in exchange for the abducted Italian journalist — efforts to secure Johnston’s release will sorely test the BBC.
