Hostage facts for kids
A hostage is a person who is held captive, meaning they are kept somewhere against their wishes. People are often taken hostage to make someone else, like a government or another person, do something for the people holding them.
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What is a Hostage?
A hostage is someone who is held by force. They are not free to leave. The people holding them are called captors. Captors usually want something in return for letting the hostage go. This could be money, a political demand, or something else.
Why are Hostages Taken?
People take hostages for different reasons. Here are some common ones:
Kidnapping for Ransom
One common reason is kidnapping. This is when a person is taken hostage, and the captors ask for money. This money is called a ransom. If the ransom is paid, the hostage is usually set free. This happens in many parts of the world.
Hostages for Political Reasons
Sometimes, hostages are taken for political reasons. This means the captors want to make a government or a group change its policies or actions. This can be a form of terrorism. Terrorists might take hostages to get attention for their cause. They might also want to scare people or governments into doing what they want.
What Happens to Hostages?
Being a hostage is a very difficult and scary experience. Hostages are often kept in secret places. They might be treated badly, but sometimes they are not harmed. The goal of the captors is usually to use the hostage to get what they want. Law enforcement and special teams often work to rescue hostages safely.
Images for kids
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Police often train to recover hostages taken by force, as in this exercise.
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"Gislas" was an Old English word for "hostages", proving that the practice was commonplace in England long before the word "hostage" was coined.
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"Hostages", 1896 painting by Jean-Paul Laurens, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon
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German announcement of the execution of 100 Polish hostages as revenge for death of 2 Germans in Warsaw, occupied Poland, February 1944
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A British armoured railway wagon behind a railcar on which two Arab hostages are seated, Palestine Mandate, 1936
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Hostage Rescue Team agents
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See also
In Spanish: Rehén para niños
