John Ridsdel: Hostage from Canada killed in Philippines

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• From the sectionAsia

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionA man who identified himself as John Ridsdel has appeared in video messages released by the Islamists

A Canadian man held captive by Islamist militants for months in the Philippines has been killed.

John Ridsdel, 68, was taken from a tourist resort along with three others by the Abu Sayyaf group in September last year.

Confirming the death, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it "an act of coldblooded murder".

On Monday a severed head was found on a remote Philippine island, hours after an Abu Sayyaf ransom deadline expired.

The Philippine army has not confirmed if it belonged to one of the captives.

• Islamic State threat in South Asia

Mr Ridsdel was kidnapped along with another Canadian, Robert Hall; a Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad; and a Filipino woman, Mr Hall's girlfriend, Marites Flor.

They had appeared in a video appealing for their release after the militants demanded millions of dollars in ransom for each hostage.

Former mining executive

"It's hard," a friend of Mr Ridsdel, Bob Rae, told CBC News. "It's just very hard. I've been involved behind the scenes for the last six months trying to find a solution and it's been very painful."

A former mining executive, Mr Ridsdel is described by Canadian media as semi-retired.

He also worked as a journalist.

Offering his condolences, Mr Trudeau gave few details, saying he would not compromise the safety of the other captives.

Abu Sayyaf was set up in the 1990s with funding from al-Qaeda, and are fighting for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.

One of its commanders recently pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State. The group is also holding several other foreigners.