Police in Papua New Guinea say there is 'unfinished business' in their pursuit of the criminal gang who took an Australian archaeologist and three local women hostage in the country's highlands.
Papua New Guinea Police say there is "unfinished business" in the country's highlands as they prepare to pursue the criminals who took an Australian professor and three local women hostage.
"It is quite a traumatic experience for anyone — regardless of if you are an expatriate or a Papua New Guinean," he said. "We reached a stage in the operation where we felt we could not delay anymore, they had to come out," Mr Marape said. Kidnappings for ransom remain rare in Papua New Guinea, and security personnel are focused on not allowing this scenario to set a precedent for would-be copycats.
The area between Fogoma'iu, where the research team was staying, and Komo, where the kidnappers were from, includes extremely rugged terrain around Mount Bosavi. "It's a big relief to the hostages themselves and for their families in Papua New Guinea, in New Zealand and in Australia," New Zealand High Commissioner Phillip Taula said.Professor Barker is expected to fly back to Australia today, where many friends and colleagues await his arrival.Queensland archaeologist Leanne Bateman has known Professor Barker for about a decade — he taught her during her undergraduate degree in 2013 and was her PhD supervisor in 2021.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian professor released unharmed after being taken hostage in PNG jungle with three colleaguesAn Australian archaeology professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues are released from captivity after more than a week of tense and traumatic negotiations, and a complex security operation involving police and defence personnel.
Read more »
Australian professor reported among three hostages released in Papua New GuineaAn Australian professor, held for a week by armed men in a remote part of Papua New Guinea, has been released along with two local colleagues, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Sunday.
Read more »
Troy Johnston death: Indonesian man facing murder charge after Australian dies in Bali barPerth man, who worked for Rio Tinto, dead after altercation in South Kuta bar
Read more »
Roald Dahl books rush to top of Australian bestseller lists ahead of editsPublisher Penguin Random House has since announced it will publish “classic” versions of Dahl’s children’s novels to meet demand.
Read more »
Pill testing sites will be rolled out in this Australian state in a nationwide-firstThe service will allow users to have their illicit drugs chemically tested for the presence of potentially dangerous substances and chemical compounds.
Read more »