Canadian tourist is beheaded by Muslim terrorists in the Philippines five months after $6.5million ransom demand - just hours after the deadline expired

Ridsdel pictured on the right in a hostage video recorded by the group. Ridsdel was kidnapped last September along with another Canadian and a Norwegian by the Muslim terror group Abu Sayyaf

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the decapitated head of a Caucasian male recovered Monday night in the southern Philippines belong to one two Canadians taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in September. Trudeau identified the victim as John Ridsdel of Calgary, Alberta and said his
government will work with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for this 'heinous act.'

'I'm outraged by the news that a Canadian citizen, John Ridsdel, held hostage in the Philippines since September 21, 2015, has been killed at the hands of his captors,' Trudeau said.

'This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests with the terrorist group who took him hostage.'

Two men on a motorcycle left Ridsdel's head, placed inside a plastic bag, along a street in Jolo town in Sulu province and then fled, Jolo police chief Supt. Junpikar Sitin said.

Abu Sayyaf militants had threatened to behead one of three men - two Canadians and a Norwegian - they kidnapped last September from a marina on southern Samal Island if a large ransom was not paid by 3pm Monday.

Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin condemned the beheading, blaming Abu Sayyaf militants, who have been implicated in past kidnappings, beheadings and bombings.

'This is such a barbaric act by these people and one would be tempted to think that they should also meet the same fate,' Amin said by telephone.

Philippine forces were moving to rescue the abductees, also including a Filipino woman who was kidnapped with them, as the Abu Sayyaf's deadline for the ransom payment lapsed, the military said.

The militants reportedly demanded 300 million pesos (the equivalent of $6.5 million USD) for each of the foreigners, a reduction from their earlier demands.

 

The hostages were believed to have been taken to Jolo Island in Sulu, a jungled province where the militants are thought to be holding a number of captives, including 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian crewmen who were abducted at gunpoint from three tugboats starting last month.

'Maximum efforts are being exerted ... to effect the rescue,' the military and police said in a joint statement, without divulging details of the rescue operation, which was ordered by President Benigno Aquino III.

About 400 Abu Sayyaf militants were involved in the kidnappings, it said.

MailOnline