American hostage killed today wanted to understand the world, friends say

Associated Press

Luke Somers, an American killed during a rescue attempt today against his al-Qaida captors in Yemen, had been working as a freelance photographer and editor in that country, and those who knew him say he had "wanderlust" and was drawn to new experiences.

Lucy Somers told The Associated Press on today that she learned of her 33-year-old brother's death from FBI agents. He had been kidnapped in September 2013 in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

President Barack Obama said today that he authorized the rescue attempt because the U.S. had information that Somers' life was in "imminent danger."

U.S. special forces had tried to rescue Somers last month.

"My life is in danger," Somers said in video footage, which appeared to mimic hostage videos released by the Islamic State group.

A South African teacher also was killed during the high-risk, U.S.-led raid on the al-Qaida-affiliated militants in Yemen, a turbulent Arab country that is a centerpiece of U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the region.

South African Pierre Korkie, abducted 18 months ago with his wife in the city of Tazi, and Somers were killed by militants as U.S. forces descended upon the militants' compound in southern Yemen. A South African aid group trying to negotiate Korkie's release said he was a day from freedom after a deal late last month that included a "facilitation fee" to the kidnappers. The relief organization had told Korkie's wife that "the wait is almost over."

President Barack Obama said he ordered the raid because Somers was believed to be in "imminent danger." The president, in a statement, condemned Somers' killing as a "barbaric murder," but did not mention the 56-year-old Korkie by name, offering condolences to the family of "a non-U.S. citizen hostage." The South African government said it was informed that Korkie died during the mission by American special forces.

"It is my highest responsibility to do everything possible to protect American citizens," Obama said. "As this and previous hostage rescue operations demonstrate, the United States will spare no effort to use all of its military, intelligence and diplomatic capabilities to bring Americans home safely, wherever they are located."

Lucy Somers said her brother had worked tirelessly to raise awareness of people's plight in Yemen, and improve things with his work.

"Through his photographs we can see the humanity through conflicts, the familiar in a turbulent tribal region," she said from near London.

Family friend Penny Bearman said he had a sensitivity for people and had become a well-loved and respected member of the local community in Sanaa.

"I think Luke would have wanted issues of extremism and terrorism to be addressed by stepping up the dialogue instead of resorting to conflict between nations."

Somers, who was born in Britain, earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing while attending Beloit College in Wisconsin from 2004 through 2007.

"He really wanted to understand the world," said Shawn Gillen, an English professor and chairman of Beloit College's journalism program.

Fuad Al Kadas, who said Somers is one of his best friends, said Somers spent time in Egypt before finding work in Yemen. Somers started teaching English at a Yemen school but quickly established himself as a one of the few foreign photographers in the country, he said.

"He is a great man with a kind heart who really loves the Yemeni people and the country," Al Kadas wrote in an email from Yemen. He said he last saw Somers the day before he was kidnapped.

"He was so dedicated in trying to help change Yemen's future, to do good things for the people that he didn't leave the country his entire time here," Al Kadas wrote.

Al Kadas said in Yemen, Somers enjoyed making friends with neighbors, youth activists and ordinary people.

Gillen said Somers wanted to seek out experiences that would matter to him, noting he traveled to Egypt as part of the school's study abroad program. The professor said he wasn't surprised when he heard Somers had moved to Yemen.

"He'd want to be in places where world events were happening," the professor said, adding that liberal arts instructors want their students "to go on and lead meaningful, purposeful lives. Luke was trying to do that. That makes (his capture) all the more horrible for us to ponder."

In a campus letter, Beloit president Scott Beirman described Somers' death as `'crushing news." He urged community members to think of ways to honor him.