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AAP
AAP
Politics
Poppy Johnston

Australian professor freed from PNG hostage situation

PNG Bryce Barker Papua New Guinea

An Australian-New Zealand archaeologist and his colleagues have been released from captivity after being taken hostage by armed criminals in Papua New Guinea.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong confirmed that all hostages had been released on Sunday.

"I welcome news from PNG that all hostages have been released and will soon be reunited with their families," she wrote on Twitter.

"Thank you to PNG's government for its leadership in securing a safe and peaceful resolution."

The academic, Bryce Barker, and other hostages were reportedly held at gunpoint by 20 armed men, according to a PNG police incident report.

The crew were conducting fieldwork in a remote PNG region when they were captured.

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