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Martin Burnham (left) was killed and his wife, Gracia (right), was injured in an attempt to rescue them from Islamic radicals in the Philippines. (ABCNEWS.com) Missionary Killed
American Hostage Dies During Rescue Attempt in Philippines; Wife Injured
M A N I L A, Philippines. June 7 — U.S. missionary Martin Burnham, held hostage by Islamic radicals in the Philippines for more than a year, was killed during a rescue attempt today.
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His wife, Gracia Burnham, was rescued from the scene of the raid near the southern Philippine town of Siraway but was shot in the leg, Philippine military officials said. She was being treated in a military hospital in the city of Zamboanga.
She was reported to be weak, but out of danger.
The Wichita, Kan., couple, one other American and 17 Filipinos were kidnapped from a luxury resort by members of the Muslim separatist Abu Sayyaf group in May, 2001. The Burnhams had been celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.
Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap, who was held captive with the missionary couple, was also killed during the raid, Philippine Gen. Narciso Abaya told reporters today.
The raid was carried out by the elite U.S.-trained Scout Rangers of the Philippines army, backed by U.S. technology. It was part of an extended rescue operation in the southern Philippines, military officials said.
U.S. troops have been helping train local soldiers to fight the Abu Sayyaf rebels in the area for several months.
In an interview with the Associated Press today, Pvt. Rene Mabilog, who was with about 40 Scout Rangers in the jungles of Zamboanga del Norte, said the troops had been following the rebels and their hostages since Thursday night.
"This morning, we found their tracks and we followed them," he said. The soldiers followed the tracks until they were about 30 yards from the rebels, who numbered around 30 people, Mabilog said.
"When we saw that the two Americans were there, our CO [commanding officer] gave us the order to open fire," said Mabilog. "We opened fire and they fought back."
Four rebels were killed and at least seven Filipino soldiers were injured during the attack, said military officials.
After about two hours of gunfire exchange, the rebels fled the area, Filipino radio reported. Local reports said troops would resume their operations in the area on Saturday to look for the rebels who had fled.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo commiserated with the Burnham and Yap families, but defended the military operation, saying "our soldiers tried their best to hold their fire for their [the hostages'] safety. I salute our troops for their forbearance."
The Abu Sayyaf, a separatist Muslim group known to have ties with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group, is notorious for kidnapping and beheading its victims. The other American kidnapped with the Burnhams, California tourist Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded last year.
Family Receives Tragic News
Meanwhile, in Rose Hill, Kan., today, the Burnham family received the tragic news of Martin's death.
Speaking to reporters before prayer service at Rose Hill Bible Church today, Burnham's brother Doug Burnham told reporters that Philippine government officials had informed the family of the news early today.
"We have word that Gracia was sent to a hospital," said Burnham. "She has undergone surgery and she is in stable condition."
One of Burnham's uncles, David Burnham, said the family was still grappling with the news. "Whatever his [God's] will is, we will accept it," he said. "We appreciate we still have Gracia."
Appeal on Videotape
The Burnhams were last seen in a video taken last November and released to local media outlets in February.
The missionary couple looked in poor health and briefly described their life in captivity. "Every time I hear a twig snap, I think it's a gunshot," said Gracia.
In an emotional plea, Martin said the couple was looking forward to returning home. "We want to go home alive to our family," he said. "We can hardly express it in words."
There were reports that Martin was suffering from malaria at the time the video was taped.
It is believed that for much of the past year, the Abu Sayyaf kept the Burnhams on the remote Basilan island.
Although there were hopes that the Abu Sayyaf would be crushed with the arrival of U.S. special forces instructors in the Philippines earlier this year to help in the military offensive, the difficult terrain and the rebel's familiarity with the area has made the crackdown a challenging task.
Attempt to Pay Ransom Fails
Although Philippine officials say the number of Abu Sayyaf rebels in the remote jungles in the southern Philippines have declined since the offensive against the Muslim separatist began last year, the group has a reputation for cruelty. They have previously demanded $2 million for the release of the Burnhams.
In April, the United States helped arrange a ransom agreement that included $300,000 in privately raised money for their release. The cash was handed to an individual who claimed ties to the terrorist group, but U.S. officials were never able to verify that he actually delivered the money.
"We just know that there was an agreement made, and Martin and Gracia were to be released, and they were not," Martin's mother Oreta Burnham told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America last month. "What went wrong or what happened we don't know, but we do know that they have not been released as the agreement was made."
The Burnhams have three children, ranging in age from 11 to 15, who are being taken care of by the grandparents.
ABCNEWS' Roberto Palacios in the Philippines contributed to this report.
Martin Burnham (left) was killed and his wife, Gracia (right), was injured in an attempt to rescue them from Islamic radicals in the Philippines. (ABCNEWS.com) Missionary Killed
American Hostage Dies During Rescue Attempt in Philippines; Wife Injured
M A N I L A, Philippines. June 7 — U.S. missionary Martin Burnham, held hostage by Islamic radicals in the Philippines for more than a year, was killed during a rescue attempt today.
Print This Page
Email This Page
See Most Sent
• Woman Describes Meeting Lead Hijacker
• U.S. Hostage Killed in Philippines Rescue Attempt
• Utah Searchers See 'Suspicious' Man. Hear Gunshots
RELATED STORIES
• U.S. Hostages Mark One Year in Captivity
• Ransom Arranged to Rebel Group
• Long Wait for Philippine Hostages' Family
His wife, Gracia Burnham, was rescued from the scene of the raid near the southern Philippine town of Siraway but was shot in the leg, Philippine military officials said. She was being treated in a military hospital in the city of Zamboanga.
She was reported to be weak, but out of danger.
The Wichita, Kan., couple, one other American and 17 Filipinos were kidnapped from a luxury resort by members of the Muslim separatist Abu Sayyaf group in May, 2001. The Burnhams had been celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.
Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap, who was held captive with the missionary couple, was also killed during the raid, Philippine Gen. Narciso Abaya told reporters today.
The raid was carried out by the elite U.S.-trained Scout Rangers of the Philippines army, backed by U.S. technology. It was part of an extended rescue operation in the southern Philippines, military officials said.
U.S. troops have been helping train local soldiers to fight the Abu Sayyaf rebels in the area for several months.
In an interview with the Associated Press today, Pvt. Rene Mabilog, who was with about 40 Scout Rangers in the jungles of Zamboanga del Norte, said the troops had been following the rebels and their hostages since Thursday night.
"This morning, we found their tracks and we followed them," he said. The soldiers followed the tracks until they were about 30 yards from the rebels, who numbered around 30 people, Mabilog said.
"When we saw that the two Americans were there, our CO [commanding officer] gave us the order to open fire," said Mabilog. "We opened fire and they fought back."
Four rebels were killed and at least seven Filipino soldiers were injured during the attack, said military officials.
After about two hours of gunfire exchange, the rebels fled the area, Filipino radio reported. Local reports said troops would resume their operations in the area on Saturday to look for the rebels who had fled.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo commiserated with the Burnham and Yap families, but defended the military operation, saying "our soldiers tried their best to hold their fire for their [the hostages'] safety. I salute our troops for their forbearance."
The Abu Sayyaf, a separatist Muslim group known to have ties with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group, is notorious for kidnapping and beheading its victims. The other American kidnapped with the Burnhams, California tourist Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded last year.
Family Receives Tragic News
Meanwhile, in Rose Hill, Kan., today, the Burnham family received the tragic news of Martin's death.
Speaking to reporters before prayer service at Rose Hill Bible Church today, Burnham's brother Doug Burnham told reporters that Philippine government officials had informed the family of the news early today.
"We have word that Gracia was sent to a hospital," said Burnham. "She has undergone surgery and she is in stable condition."
One of Burnham's uncles, David Burnham, said the family was still grappling with the news. "Whatever his [God's] will is, we will accept it," he said. "We appreciate we still have Gracia."
Appeal on Videotape
The Burnhams were last seen in a video taken last November and released to local media outlets in February.
The missionary couple looked in poor health and briefly described their life in captivity. "Every time I hear a twig snap, I think it's a gunshot," said Gracia.
In an emotional plea, Martin said the couple was looking forward to returning home. "We want to go home alive to our family," he said. "We can hardly express it in words."
There were reports that Martin was suffering from malaria at the time the video was taped.
It is believed that for much of the past year, the Abu Sayyaf kept the Burnhams on the remote Basilan island.
Although there were hopes that the Abu Sayyaf would be crushed with the arrival of U.S. special forces instructors in the Philippines earlier this year to help in the military offensive, the difficult terrain and the rebel's familiarity with the area has made the crackdown a challenging task.
Attempt to Pay Ransom Fails
Although Philippine officials say the number of Abu Sayyaf rebels in the remote jungles in the southern Philippines have declined since the offensive against the Muslim separatist began last year, the group has a reputation for cruelty. They have previously demanded $2 million for the release of the Burnhams.
In April, the United States helped arrange a ransom agreement that included $300,000 in privately raised money for their release. The cash was handed to an individual who claimed ties to the terrorist group, but U.S. officials were never able to verify that he actually delivered the money.
"We just know that there was an agreement made, and Martin and Gracia were to be released, and they were not," Martin's mother Oreta Burnham told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America last month. "What went wrong or what happened we don't know, but we do know that they have not been released as the agreement was made."
The Burnhams have three children, ranging in age from 11 to 15, who are being taken care of by the grandparents.
ABCNEWS' Roberto Palacios in the Philippines contributed to this report.