More than 300 migrants heading to the UK last summer were kidnapped, tortured and threatened with forced organ removal, the BBC has learned. The young men, all from Iraqi Kurdistan, were captured in Libya by a militia who demanded a ransom of $5,000 (£3,700) from each of their families, and threatened to harvest the captives' kidneys if payment was not made promptly. We have spoken to some hostages who have since been released, and seen photo evidence suggesting that forced operations did take place. The former captives showed us evidence of torture, and said they had been kept in cramped conditions, with nearly 180 people sharing a cell. At least one hostage is known to have died, and it is unclear how many remain captive. The militia was supposed to be guiding the migrants through Libya to the Mediterranean coast. However, a dispute over payment had broken out with the Iraqi Kurd people-smuggler, Noah Aaron, who had organised the migrants' journey. Aaron is now serving a 10-year prison sentence in France for separate money laundering and smuggling offences. Details of the kidnappings emerged during a recent BBC investigation into another smuggler, Kardo Jaf, which led to his arre
Jun 9, 2026 → Jun 10, 2026
Violence on the streets of Northern Ireland is the real-world expression of a sinister mechanism that goes unchecked online Masked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called protesters, since the word implies…
Read original at The Guardian →2 updates from 2 sources over 2 days.
Violence on the streets of Northern Ireland is the real-world expression of a sinister mechanism that goes unchecked online Masked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called protesters, since…
Read original at The Guardian →More than 300 migrants heading to the UK last summer were kidnapped, tortured and threatened with forced organ removal, the BBC has learned. The young men, all from Iraqi Kurdistan, were captured in Libya by a militia…
Read original at BBC →What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.
Violence on the streets of Northern Ireland is the real-world expression of a sinister mechanism that goes unchecked online Masked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called protesters, since the word implies…
View source →More than 300 migrants heading to the UK last summer were kidnapped, tortured and threatened with forced organ removal, the BBC has learned. The young men, all from Iraqi Kurdistan, were captured in Libya by a militia who demanded a ransom…
View source →Tier key: T0 = Primary source · T1 = Wire · T2 = Outlet report · T3 = Commentary
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