British Teacher Held Hostage In Libya Freed

A British teacher who was being held hostage by militants in Libya has been released and reunited with his family.

David Bolam, who worked at the International School in Benghazi, was abducted earlier this year.

His kidnapping had not been reported at the request of his family and the Foreign Office.

Although it has not been officially confirmed who his captors were, a group calling itself the Army of Islam, a faction in Libya, released an online video of Mr Bolam dated 28 August pleading for his release.

The 53-second video showed him sitting in a room wearing a white T-shirt.

In it, he said: "My name is David Richard Bolam. I am a British citizen. I am a teacher.

"My health is good at the moment. I have been here a very long time."

He went on to plead for Britain to arrange a prisoner exchange or other diplomatic initiative to secure his release.

The Foreign Office said: "We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family.

"We have been supporting his family since he was taken.

"We do not comment on the detail of hostage cases. The family have asked for privacy."

There are unconfirmed reports a ransom was paid through "unofficial channels" in exchange for Mr Bolam's release.

The Foreign Office confirmed the Government had paid no money, saying: "HMG never pays ransoms. It is illegal to pay ransoms to a terrorist group."

While several Western governments have paid money to secure the release of hostages held by militants, the UK and US governments have a policy of refusing demands for ransoms.

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Alice Gross: Body Found In Hunt For Suspect

Police say a body found in west London may be that of Arnis Zalkalns, the main suspect in the murder of schoolgirl Alice Gross.

The "early indications" are that the badly decomposed body could be that of Zalkalns, who has been missing since the start of September, the Metropolitan Police said.

According to unconfirmed reports, the dead man was found hanged.

The convicted killer is the prime suspect in the disappearance of the 14-year-old, who was found dead in the River Brent on Tuesday following an extensive search.

An area of Boston Manor Park in west London has been cordoned off - a mile from where Alice's body was recovered.

In a statement the Met said: "Although no formal identification has been made early indications suggest the body may be that of Arnis Zalkalns. We have updated his partner and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) is supporting her.

Video: CCTV Footage Shows Alice Suspect

"Due to the nature of the surrounding area specialist resources will be required to assist with the recovery of the body."

Some people living near the park have voiced their alarm at the discovery.

Ingrid Zalalis, 46, who was with her daughter, said: "This is our park, we come here for walks. We also go on our bicycles near the canal, and spent a lot of time looking there after Alice went missing.

"There are areas in these woods where people don't go.

"The police searched the park a while ago and I don't think they found anything then."

A 57-year-old called Zahra said: "I used to like this park, but now I feel it's not a safe place.

Video: Alice Gross Police Statement

"I have been very upset about Alice Gross, I couldn't sleep when the body was found."

Police say they are still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crime, and have repeated their appeal to members of the public for any information that could help their investigation.

Zalkalns was filmed cycling along the same route behind Alice on the day she failed to return to her home in Hanwell on 28 August.

He was reported as missing just days later.

The 41-year-old worked at a building site in Isleworth, west London, and is thought to have come to the UK in 2007.

Authorities faced criticism for apparently holding no record of his conviction for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife Rudite to death in Latvia.

Video: Alice Gross Suspect's Home Searched

It also emerged Zalkalns was arrested in London on suspicion of indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2009, but was never charged.

Alice was last seen on CCTV walking along the Grand Union Canal towards Hanwell at 4.26pm on August 28.

A post-mortem examination on the schoolgirl was inconclusive and further tests are to be carried out to find out how she died.

Police said "significant efforts" were taken to conceal her body in the water.

Zalkalns had not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone since September 3, nor had he returned home to his partner and young child in Ealing. He also left behind his passport.

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