Kantner's vessel, the Rockall, was found drifting off the southern Philippines on November 7 2016. Photo: DPAThe Philippine military said on Sunday it had recovered the body of an elderly German hostage who was beheaded by Islamic militants last week. Kantner's vessel, the Rockall, was found drifting on November 7 off the southern Philippines with the body of his female companion, Sabine Merz, who had been shot. Kantner's remains are in a military hospital morgue in Sulu while officials are preparing documents to transport the body, authorities said. The Abu Sayyaf, established with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, have been kidnapping foreigners and locals for decades and holding them for ransom.

Source: The Local March 05, 2017 09:11 UTC