Police operation underway to rescue Australian professor and three colleagues held hostage in Papua New Guinea

The Australian professor was in the area with colleagues for a field study. (Wikimedia Commons: eGuide Travel/CC 2.0/File)

Police say they will use lethal force if necessary to secure the release of an Australian professor and three colleagues who were taken hostage in a remote area of Papua New Guinea while conducting a field study.

A special police operation is now underway to rescue the group, which consists of the Australian professor, a Papua New Guinean program coordinator, and two University of PNG graduates.