Rescued Afghan hostage Briton recovering

Helen Johnston, 28, was dramatically rescued on Saturday as an early morning raid ended her 12-day ordeal.

Prime Minister David Cameron commended the soldiers who carried out the “extraordinarily brave, breath-taking” operation and returned her to safety.

In a strongly-worded statement issued outside 10 Downing Street, he warned hostage-takers could “expect a swift and brutal end”.

The rescue attempt was authorised amid increasing concerns for the safety of Ms Johnston and her colleagues from Medair, a humanitarian non-governmental organisation based near Lausanne, Switzerland.

The aid worker, Kenyan national Moragwe Oirere, 26, and two Afghan civilians were abducted by a group associated with the Taliban on May 22 as they visited relief project sites in Badakhshan province in the north-east of the country.

The Government’s emergency committee Cobra met daily following the kidnappings.

A number of Taliban and hostage-takers were killed during the rescue operation.

It came after forces set out on a “long route march” without being detected.

The Prime Minister was told the operation – which involved British troops, international forces and the Afghan government – had been a success at around 2am.

“It was an extraordinarily brave, breath-taking even, operation that our troops had to carry out,” Mr Cameron said.

“I pay tribute to their skill and dedication.”

He said the rescue should serve as a warning to terrorists across the world who take British citizens hostage.

“They should know if they take British citizens as hostage we do not pay ransoms, we do not trade prisoners,” he added. “They can expect a swift and brutal end.”

Ms Johnston was taken to the British Embassy in Kabul shortly after the operation.

In a brief conversation with Mr Cameron, she thanked the Prime Minister for the efforts of all those involved in bringing her to safety.

Her parents Philip and Patricia and brother Peter said they were “deeply grateful” to those who rescued her.

Ms Johnston previously told of the levels of malnutrition she witnessed during her work in north-east Afghanistan and said she regularly saw skeletal children.