The disappearance of British aid worker Nancy Guthrie has taken a grim turn. A ransom note received by the Foreign Office on Tuesday claims the 34-year-old is dead, though officials have not yet been able to verify the claim. The note, delivered via an intermediary, demands the release of three unspecified detainees in exchange for her body.
British intelligence agencies are now sharing expertise with local authorities in the region, where Guthrie was last seen three weeks ago. The Foreign Office has declined to comment on the specifics of the note, citing operational security. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was briefed this morning.
An emergency Cobra meeting is expected later today. The note, written in English and signed with a previously unknown group's emblem, provides no proof of life. Analysts are examining the language and demands for links to known militant organisations.
Guthrie, a former nurse from Bristol, had been working for the charity MedGlobal in a conflict zone. Her family has appealed for privacy. The government has urged restraint in reporting, warning that unverified claims could endanger ongoing efforts.
