Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rescued after 5 years as Taliban hostages
A FAMILY held hostage by a group linked to the Taliban have been freed in a daring commando raid.
Caitlin Coleman and Joshua Boyle were kidnapped by the Haqqani network five years ago on a trip to Afghanistan.
American Ms Coleman, 31, was then pregnant, and she and Canadian Mr Boyle, 34, went on to have three children in captivity. The family was rescued by the Pakistan military after a US intelligence tip-off that they were being moved over the border into the Kurram tribal area of Pakistan.
They were handed over to the US army on Wednesday, sources said. Footage last year showed the couple with two sons, and the first mention of a third child was in a statement from the Pakistan army confirming their release from “terrorist custody”. US President Donald Trump hailed it a “positive moment” in relations with Pakistan and a sign the country is “honouring America’s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region”. Pakistan said it shows its commitment to “fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy”.
Last night it was claimed Mr Boyle refused to board a US military plane home, fearing he will be arrested over suspected jihadi links. He was previously wed to the sister of Canadian Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr. Last year it was said he was told he could go free, but refused to leave his family.