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'Pay ransom or lose a kidney': Illegal migrants bound for UK kidnapped in Libya
Key takeaways
- 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.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Ben Milne,BBC Newsand Sue Mitchell Kurdish Regional Government More than 100 hostages were flown back to Iraqi Kurdistan after being released in January 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.
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