British hostage Peter Moore 'heading home' after Iraq kidnap

Published on Friday 1 January 2010 09:53

FREED British hostage Peter Moore was on his way home today following his kidnap ordeal in Iraq, according to reports.

The computer expert would fly home later today but would seek to avoid attention on his arrival, the BBC reported.

Mr Moore, 36, from Lincoln, was seized with his four British bodyguards by militants posing as police at the finance ministry in Baghdad on May 29 2007.

But after lengthy negotiations for his release, he was freed on Wednesday.

The bodies of three bodyguards – Alec MacLachlan, 30, from Llanelli, South Wales, Jason Swindlehurst, 38, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, 39, originally from Glasgow – were passed to UK authorities last year.

A fourth bodyguard, Alan McMenemy, 34, from Glasgow, is also believed to have been killed.

Middle East correspondent Jim Muir told Radio 4's Today programme: "I have just been told by the embassy (in Baghdad) that he will be going back today, but they are clamping down on any details. We are not being told how he is getting back or when he is getting back.

"He and his family basically want to have a period of decompression where he can ease gently back into public life.

"He spent New Year's Eve at the embassy quietly. I don't think there was any great revelry or celebration going on. It was a very quiet low-key evening for them, but he will be moving on today."

The Foreign Office in London today remained tight lipped about details, saying only that it was "unable to confirm" reports that Mr Moore would return to Britain today.

Mr Moore's return home comes as anger mounts at the Government's efforts in handling the crisis.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband demanded the return of the remains of the final hostage, Mr McMenemy.

His father, Dennis McMenemy, accused the Foreign Office of "deceit, lies and cover-up" over the kidnappers' alleged links to Iran and said he had not been kept informed of efforts to secure the release of his son's body, according to The Guardian.

UK and Iraqi officials played down claims Iran masterminded the abduction.