US captain kidnapped by pirates freed: Report
April 13th, 2009 - 1:20 am ICT by IANSWashington, April 12 (DPA) The US captain kidnapped by Somali pirates has been freed, according to the US broadcaster CNN Sunday.
The exact circumstance of the release of Richard Phillips, kidnapped Wednesday when pirates attempted to seize his cargo ship, were unclear.
But according to CNN, the 53-year-old US citizen was now onboard the US Bainbridge warship, and in good health.
Citing senior US officials, the broadcaster said that three of the four pirates onboard the lifeboat holding Phillips were dead, whilst the fourth was in custody.
Phillips’ boat, the Maersk Alabama, was attacked by pirates Wednesday off the coast of Somalia, a notorious piracy hotspot.
After a fight between pirates and crew, Phillips was abducted on a lifeboat by four pirates, whilst the crew regained control of the Alabama, which is now docked in Mombasa, Kenya.
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- Somali pirates rushing to help comrades in face-off with US Navy - Apr 11, 2009
- Hijacked lifeboat with US captain near Somali shore: Report - Apr 12, 2009
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Tags: abducted, bainbridge, broadcaster, cargo ship, circumstance, cnn, coast of somalia, good health, hotspot, kenya, lifeboat, maersk, piracy, richard phillips, somali pirates, us citizen, warship