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Head of US hostage found in freezer

July 22, 2004 14:41 IST

The head of the murdered American hostage Paul Johnson has been found in a freezer in the Saudi capital Riyadh, report agencies quoting the interior ministry.  

The recovery followed police raids on a suspected Al Qaeda hideout Tuesday in which two militants were killed and three arrested.  Several surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, automatic rifles, grenades, pistols, chemicals, video cameras and cash  were also recovered from the hideout.  Three police officers were also injured in the shootout.

Johnson, 49, an engineer for US aircraft major Lockheed Martin, was abducted on June 12 by terrorist who threatened to kill him unless Riyadh released Al Qaeda prisoners.  On June 18, photographs of his beheading appeared on Islamic websites. 

''Saudi authorities are pursuing every lead in their terror investigations. They are absolutely determined to bring these murderers to justice and end the threat to the peaceful citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia,' Saudi ambassador to Washington Prince Bandar said in a statement.

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