Press releases from Iraq.

Associated Press (Adurinizez Command Center, Iraq ) 7/06/07 14:35 -- Official sources today confirmed reports that 6 members of a British combat unit have gone missing from a routine patrol duty near here. A search has turned up evidence of a skirmish but no evidence of the personnel. Harry Wales, the group’s lieutenant commander is among the missing. Wales is the son of Prince Charles, Grandson of the Queen and third in line to the Throne of England. After his military training at Sandringham, there was great controversy over whether to deploy the young Prince to Iraq. There was fear that his presence would endanger the lives of the troops stationed with him, and that he might be a select target for Iraqi insurgents. Explicit threats were made against the young Prince, including a promise that he would return from Iraq “without his ears.” In the end the decision was taken that he should deploy, but that extraordinary efforts would be made to hide the nature and location of his deployment. Efforts continue to locate the soldiers. British air and ground forces have been joined by US and Iraqi forces in the search.

Associated Press (Teheran, Iraq)7/06/07 18:25 -- An insurgent group has made the claim that they have captured the missing British troops and that Prince Harry is among them and unhurt. These reports are unconfirmed, but sources say that the insurgents intend to offer video proof in the next few days. Downing Street has not commented officially, but sources say that a demand has been issued for the release of the captives. An intensive ground and air search is underway including British, US and Iraqi forces, but no trace of the insurgents has been found.

Associated Press (Teheran, Iraq)7/07/07 04:00 -- A little-known paramilitary group which calls itself “Blood of the Martyrs” has released a video to the Islamic News Service purported to be of Prince Harry being held as a prisoner. At this time the video has not been shown to anyone outside the US and British military and the military is saying only that a video exists, that it appears to be Prince Harry and that he appears alive. No other details are forthcoming.

Associated Press (Teheran, Iraq)7/07/07 18:00 -- The video of Prince Harry in the custody of the “Blood of Martyrs” group has, as yet not been shown to anyone outside the respective military commands. Hours of intense negotiation failed to result in the release of the video. Sources claim that the video contains sensitive military-related material and may never be released to the public. Meanwhile, the British government has reissued a formal demand for the release of all British citizens being held in Iraq.

Associated Press (Teheran, Iraq)7/07/07 18:25 -- In an unexpected development, Prince Harry was released by his captors in a small village near a US base, but about 11 miles from the British base here. The Prince was found wandering at the edge of the village. There is no official report of his condition, but eyewitnesses claim he had been injured, but that his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. No other hostages were released with him. Within fifteen minutes of the release of the Prince a copy of the video of Prince Harry in the custody of the “Blood of the Martyrs” insurgents was been released by unknown sources on the internet. The British Government has issued a strong warning that the video is a military secret and that viewing or possessing a copy of it is subject to severe penalties. Despite this, copies of the video have multiplied on the internet. At this writing there are hundreds of sites which are showing the video.

Associated Press (London)7/08/07 18:00 -- A video of Prince Harry being held by an insurgent group calling themselves “Blood of the Martyrs” has been popping-up all over the internet since it was released by the insurgents yesterday. The video which is now available at thousands of places on the internet appears to be authentic. It is crudely-made with a hand-held camera, but there appears little doubt that it is Prince Harry in the video. It begins with a close-up shot of the Prince’s face. The video then stops abruptly and starts again, repositioned for a longer view including the Prince and 5 other masked individuals standing around him. One individual steps forward and says in broken English, “To English invaders. You need have better translationing We have warn-ed you Queen that we would return to you the son of your son without parts. We have not said “ears” as you have translationed.”

The following description of the video contains graphic violence and may offend some readers. Caution is recommended.

Prince Harry is shown with his hands and arms bound above his head and is shirtless. His trousers and undergarment have been pushed down around the top of his boots at his ankles. One of the masked captors then grasps the Prince’s penis with a gloved hand and holds it up against his belly. Another gloved captor then displays a surgical scalpel to the camera. He then grasps the Prince’s scrotum, stretching it downward. The assailant then slices open the scrotum from top to bottom. He spreads it open and grasps each exposed testicle, stretching-out the attaching cords and then cutting them, detaching the testicle completely. He then displays the severed testicle for a close-up. The same procedure was then applied to the Prince’s other testicle. As this is happening, Prince Harry can be heard shouting, “Bloody Infidels” and “Fucking Animals,” and other unintelligible words, then after the first testicle is severed, “You’ll pay for this!” After the second testicle is severed sobs can be heard which have been tentatively identified as the Prince. While the second testicle is being displayed to the camera, there is an off-camera disturbance and the picture is wildly erratic for a moment. A shout of “Allah Akbar!” is clearly heard and another person, not masked, charges into the circle with a small knife drawn. A struggle ensues and the Prince can be heard to scream. Chaos ensues as the intruder is subdued by the masked terrorists while others work feverishly at the Prince’s groin, apparently attempting to quell bleeding. There is a brief closer shot of the Prince again, showing that his penis has been removed and the small stump is bleeding profusely. The camera goes dark. It is unknown exactly how this video got into the hands of the public, but there seems little doubt that it is authentic. Both Downing Street and Buckingham Palace have declined comment either on its contents or its authenticity. The insurgents remain at large despite an intensive ground and air search by British, US and Iraqi forces.

Associated Press (Teheran, Iraq)7/08/07 06:00 -- The remaining 5 members of a British military unit captured by the insurgent group, “Blood of the Martyrs” have been released, unharmed into a deserted area about 4 km from a British post. Prince Harry Wales, who had been the unit’s leader, was released the previous day with unspecified injuries. The five soldiers released today appear to be unharmed. Official reports say that Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne has been airlifted to an ultra-private nursing-home in Scotland where he is recovering from his ordeal. No comment has been forthcoming, either from Downing Street or Buckingham Palace concerning the video circling the internet which purports to be of the Prince, held captive by an Arab extremist group. In the video it appears that the Prince is castrated and then has his penis removed. While there has been neither denial nor confirmation, it is widely believed that the video is authentic.

Associated Press (London)7/14/07 14:00 -- Anonymous sources have offered unconfirmed reports that a package arrived today by courier at the Tower of London, addressed to HRM Queen Elizabeth. Sources say that it was a diplomatic pouch, bearing the marks of several Middle-Eastern Embassies and containing a small inlaid casket, about 7cm by 7cm by 20cm. The ornate casket was said to contain the remains of Prince Harry’s testicles and penis and a note from the “Blood of the Martyrs” terrorists, suggesting that the remains be displayed with the other crown jewels at the Tower of London. There has been no official comment. The “Blood of the Martyrs” group remains at large.