Jill Carroll kidnapper arrested

The alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping in Baghdad of American journalist Jill Carroll in 2006 has been arrested, says Deborah Haynes in Baghdad for The Times today. Salim Abdallah Ashur al-Shujayri, also know as Abu Uthman was captured on August 11 and is also thought to have been involved in the kidnap and murder of Margaret Hassan, the aid worker in October 2004, and the abductions of Norman Kember, the British peace campaigner,

“He is believed to be the planner behind the kidnapping of American journalist Jill Carroll,” a statement said. Ms Carroll, 30, who worked for the Christian Science Monitor in Baghdad, was taken hostage at gunpoint on January 7, 2006. Her interpreter was shot dead. She was released almost three months later. link