2 European hostages are killed in Nigeria

It’s not clear whether the Briton and Italian died before or during a rescue attempt.

A Briton and an Italian who were kidnapped by suspected terrorists in Nigeria were killed by their abductors before a rescue operation could reach them Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.

Cameron said he and the Nigerian government had authorized a joint mission to try to rescue Chris Mcmanus of Britain and Franco Lamolinara of Italy. The two men, who worked for an Italian construction firm, were kidnapped in May from their residences in northwestern Nigeria.

“After months of not knowing where they were being held, we received credible information about their location,” Cameron said.

“A window of opportunity arose to try and secure their release. We also had reason to believe that their lives were under imminent and growing danger,” Cameron said.

“Preparations were made to mount an operation to rescue Chris and Franco.... It is with great regret I have to say that both Chris and Franco have lost their lives.”

Details of what happened were still sketchy late Thursday, but “the early indications are clear that both men were murdered by their captors before they could be rescued,” Cameron said. “I am very sorry that this ended so tragically.”

It was not immediately clear whether they were killed during or before the rescue attempt. The Associated Press quoted an unnamed Nigerian official as saying the two were killed in the crossfire during the operation, but the information could not be confirmed late Thursday.

The news service quoted Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as saying that “the perpetrators of the murderous act, who have all been arrested, would be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Jonathan did not specify how many people had been arrested or what roles they are suspected of playing in the kidnapping and killing of Mcmanus and Lamolinara.

Cameron did not identify the group suspected of orchestrating the abduction. The BBC said that the kidnapping probably was carried out by members of the Islamic militant group Boko Haram, some of whose adherents are believed to be linked to Al Qaeda.

A video of Mcmanus and Lamolinara — who appeared blindfolded, their captors standing behind them with faces covered — was circulated after their abduction. It was unclear what demands, if any, were being made for their release.

Mcmanus’ family issued a statement through Britain’s Foreign Office saying that they were devastated by their loss.

“We knew Chris was in an extremely dangerous situation,” the statement said. “However, we knew that everything that could be done was being done” to secure his release.