Exclusive: Peter Moore says his kidnappers thought he was a spy
Updated on 11 March 2010
IT consultant Peter Moore tells Channel 4 News he believes his kidnap was the result of mistaken identity and that his captors thought he was in military intelligence.
In the course of Andy Davies's interview with Peter Moore, the IT consultant suggests his kidnap was the result of mistaken identity.
At one point he says, "It is highly feasible as, on my Visa USAID, they made a mistake with my nationality. They said American, nationality United States.
"I did question it and they said they checked it out, so therefore there wouldn't be a problem."
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Later Peter Moore says he believes the militia who took him hostage "thought I was a military intelligence officer".
He continues: "I don't really know what they thought of me. I don't think they really understood what I did – they never found out what I did, that's for sure.
"And I think they were… just didn't really know what to do with me. That's the impression I got."
'They said they would not kill me'
Peter Moore was told one of his captors, Laith al-Khazaali (brother of Qais al-Khazaali, leader of the Shi'ite group Asaib al-Khazaali), that he would not be killed, provided he did not try to escape.
Moore replied to such assurances by saying he did not believe his captors.
He says he was also told in 2009 that he would be released "by the end of November" - but Moore again refused to believe such a promise.
