Four Americans whose yacht had been hijacked by Somali pirates were killed by those pirates earlier this week; the U.S. Navy said that it stormed the ship after hearing gunshots, and found all the hostages dead.
Four Americans—Scott and Jean Adam, who were delivering Bibles around the world, and two friends, Phylis Macay and Bob Riggle (pictured)—were hijacked by Somali pirates last Friday while sailing in a yacht off the coast of Oman. Now, they're all dead. According to CBS News, a US Navy ship that was tracking the yacht…
Somali pirates have seized a Greek supertanker off the coast of Oman—just one day after seizing an Italian supertanker! "Don't forget us, news media!" they seem to be saying. "Egypt is a passing fad." [USAT. Photo: Getty]
Pirates took 1,181 hostages in 2010. The most ever recorded! This won't end well, Somalia.
As if the Somali pirates weren't raking in enough booty, they've now expanded their buccaneering attacks past mere shipping lanes, into an area of ocean that's "about 2.5 million square miles." Is one of those square miles yours? [USAT]
Unaccountable mercenary firm Blackwater had a big plan to get into the Somali pirate-fighting business a couple of years ago, according to a newly released Wikileaks document. The problem: Blackwater actually sounded worse than the Somali pirates.
Bad news, people who think pirates are entertaining from afar: global pirate attacks are down this year, thanks mostly to sharp reduction in the number of attacks off the coast of Somalia. Ironic "silver lining": the pirates have moved!
Yesterday, pirates in the Gulf of Aden commandeered a ship "carrying steel chains," which you don't want to fall into pirate hands. So the US Marines—for the first time ever—stormed and retook the vessel. Exciting battle details below.
The Somali government is teaming up with Somali pirates. Anti-government insurgents are teaming up with Somali pirates. And we'd love to team up with Somali pirates on some sort of t-shirt licensing deal. Pirates: awesome, till they kill you. [NYT]
Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship "carrying bags of cement." Well...good effort.
Somali pirates have hijacked a ship "carrying a poisonous chemical." [!!!!!]. Don't panic.
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, the Somali pirate lucky(?) enough to be brought to NYC for trial, pleaded guilty yesterday to the failed hijacking of Hero Captain Richard Phillips' ship. His case is unspeakably sad. But it could be worse!
Yesterday, Somali pirates dramatically seized a Russian oil tanker with 23 crew members and $52 million in oil aboard. But a "robust" response from a hearty band of Russian sailors has liberated the seamen—no oil necessary.
Pirates have seized a tanker with $52 million in oil. A warship's headed their way.
Somali pirates hijacked three Thai ships 1,200 miles off shore. They're getting closer.
Private security mercenaries shot and killed a Somali pirate who tried to jack a ship off the African coast yesterday. And "International navies have killed about a dozen pirates over the past year." Where is the love? [WSJ]
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, the Somali pirate who survived the Navy SEALs snipers only to be brought to NYC for trial, has had two new ship hijacking charges added to his indictment. While in jail! See how dangerous he is? [NYT]
Everyone knows that Somali pirates are a lovable, ragtag group of devil-may-care adventurers living the dream of millions of daydreaming office workers. But, whoa, now the WSJ says ships are carrying anti-pirate guards, with real guns? Is that even safe?
