via ABC News, 26 February 2023: It is with great relief that Prof. Bryce Barker and his assistants have been released from captivity after more than a week as hostages in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. More stories below.
An Australian professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after they were kidnapped in PNG’s highlands.
It comes two days after another woman who had also been taken was set free.
Professor Bryce Barker, who is an Australian resident and New Zealand citizen, was held alongside fellow members of his research team Cathy Alex, Jemina Haro and PhD student Teppsy Beni.
The group was doing fieldwork in a remote part of PNG’s highlands near Mount Bosavi, on the border of the Hela and Southern Highlands provinces, when they were taken by a criminal gang from Hela Province who demanded a ransom for their freedom.
See also:
- Papua New Guinea: Australian professor, two others released | DW, 26 Feb 2023
- Australian Bryce Barker among three hostages released in Papua New Guinea after ransom paid | South China Morning Post, 26 Feb 2023
- Papua New Guinea kidnap: Archaeologist Bryce Barker and colleagues freed | BBC News, 26 Feb 2023
- Australian professor and two local researchers held hostage in Papua New Guinea released | The Guardian, 26 Feb 2023
- Armed group has released its last three hostages in Papua New Guinea, says prime minister | CNN, 26 Feb 2023
- Papua New Guinea kidnappers release last 3 hostages | AP, 26 Feb 2023
- Hostages freed in Papua New Guinea after week-long abduction | Bangkok Post, 26 Feb 2023
- Australian professor and two other hostages freed in Papua New Guinea after a week | the Independent, 26 Feb 2023
- Australian academic kidnapped and held hostage by gunman in PNG jungle is freed after ‘covert operations’ | Daily Mail, 26 Feb 2023
- Kidnappers in Papua New Guinea free hostages including New Zealand academic | The Telegraph, 26 Feb 2023
- Family of professor taken hostage ‘overjoyed’ at return | The Queenslander, 1 Mar 2023
