British-born U.S. photojournalist and South African aid worker - who was due to be released tomorrow - are executed by al-Qaeda during failed American commando rescue attempt in Yemen

   

Luke Somers (right) had been held hostage since September 2013 in Yemen's capital Sana'a (bottom left) having moved to the country two years earlier. His sister Lucy told Associated Press that she learned of her 33-year-old brother's death from FBI agents. She said today: 'We ask that all of Luke's family members be allowed to mourn in peace.' Another hostage, South African aid worker Pierre Korkie (top left) was also killed during the operation - a day before he was due to be released. Earlier this week al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) issued a video with a message aimed at the US government threatening to kill the hostage if its demands were not met.
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