Kidnapped US captain freed snipers kill 3 pirates

US navy commandos yesterday rescued an American ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates on the Indian Ocean in a daring operation that killed three pirates.

Four Somali pirates had held Richard Phillips in a lifeboat since their aborted attempt to hijack the Maersk Alabama, a US-flagged cargo ship, on Wednesday.

Vice-admiral Bill Gortney, commander of US naval forces in the region, said navy snipers shot the pirates after determining that Mr Phillips was in "imminent" danger. President Barack Obama had authorised the navy to take action if Mr Phillips' life was at risk.

The operation marked a success for Mr Obama, who was facing one of the first security crises of his three-month presidency. The president said he was "very pleased" with the outcome, while stressing that the US would "remain resolved" to clamp down on piracy.

"We must continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks, be prepared to interdict acts of piracy and ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes," he said.

John Reinhart, chief executive of Maersk Line, owner of the Alabama, said he was "absolutely thrilled to learn that Richard is safe and will be reunited with his family".

One pirate was captured in the operation. The US Department of Justice said the agency would review "the evidence and other issues" to determine whether to prosecute the pirate in the US.

The drama came after the first attempted pirate attack on a US vessel in more than a century. Mr Phillips offered himself up to the pirates after they boarded the Alabama on Wednesday morning.

In an almost farcical saga that could easily have turned into tragedy, the four pirates who wielded AK-47 assault rifles and pistols had faced down the most powerful navy in the world for five days. The Pentagon had sent three ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, to shadow the lifeboat and prevent other pirate-controlled vessels from approaching.

In a phone call to Mr Reinhart, Mr Phillips said: "I'm just the byline. The real heroes are the navy, the Seals [naval special forces], those who have brought me home."

Somali pirates have stepped up attacks in the vital Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean waterways since March after a lull earlier this year. Reuters reported last night that they had threatened revenge over the shootings and the killing of two pirates in a French military assault on Friday to rescue a yacht. Pirates are holding more than a dozen ships and over 200 hostages in the area.

The French government has ordered a judicial investigation after the owner of the yacht was killed in the operation to rescue him and his family. Hervé Morin, France's defence minister, said it was possible Florent Lemaçon was shot by a French bullet.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• kidnapped us captain
• somali pirates
• us navy commandos
• indian ocean
• richard phillips
• maersk alabama
• navy seals
• snipers

[autigerssuck]

how did this turn into an argument about israel? This had NOTHING to do with israel. This captain was in clear and evident danger and the SEALs did EXACTLY what had to be done. This was perfectly executed. I swear some of you liberals are idiots.

[trwgmlg]

thats what happens when you fuck with the U.S

[HeavyTrolling]

But I thought Sniper WAS a pirate!

[r34p3rex]

killl those subhuman assholes

[kamikazepiloot100]

i like icecream.

[vibbly]

@autigerssuck Don't gotta be a conservative to appreciate this sort of thing. America doing the right thing and taking care of business.

[clutchcrippler]

Kill all those filthy animals.

[kwb18]

Sniping on a boat and killing 3. Damn.

[klajghajko]

7 people are somali

[XOGOGAL]

you killed 3, we killed 4 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[z28931]

@thownick Your a fucking idiot.