Somali pirates take a Danish sailboat which includes 3 children
Posted By RichC on February 28, 2011
On the heels of a tragic ending for the Americans traveling on s/v Quest, another sailboat has been taken by Somali pirates. According to news reports, the pirates have hijacked a family (parents and three children) as well as two others onboard.
Report translated from DR.dk News:
Danish sailing ship hijacked by pirates
A ship with a Danish family from Kalundborg and their two assistants are hijacked by pirates and is on its way to Somalia coast. Foreign Ministry informs Ritzau that the Navy Operational Command 24th February received an emergency call from the ship which is owned by the family and at that time located in the Indian Ocean.
– Navy Operational Command received a distress signal from the Danish ship and immediately began an investigation of what had happened to the ship and its crew, "says Charlotte Slente, head of MFA’s Citizen.
Very difficult situation
– Sadly, it was confirmed that the ship hijacked by pirates, and that now appears to be headed for Somalia, "she continued.
The Danish warship Esbern Snare is directed to the area where a Danish family with three children have been hijacked, learns B.dk.
She further states that all relatives have been informed and they are now in close contact with the Danish authorities. Besides parents and three children, two technicians on board. They’re like family Danish. Foreign Ministry does not want to say how old the kids are.
Sailed out in 2009– This is a very difficult situation – even to relatives. Not least because there are children involved, and therefore we are asking the Danish media about being gentle on the relatives, "says Charlotte Slente. According to Ekstra Bladet family sailed from Denmark in August 2009 to return home in late summer after two years of sailing. The eldest son is 17 years while the youngest is a girl of 13 years and a boy of 15 years. Along the way, the family, which has significant operating experience, including visited South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, before about two weeks ago summoned from the Maldives, bound for Africa.
FoxNews article below:
Pirates Reportedly Hijack Danish Boat With Three Children on Board
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Pirates reportedly have hijacked a Danish sailboat with four adults and three children on board.
The ship was hijacked Thursday while traveling through the Indian Ocean and is now on its way to Somalia, Denmark’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Charlotte Slente told DR News, a national TV News channel in Denmark.
A Danish couple, their three children and two technicians were on board the sailboat, DR News reported.
Navy Operational Command started investigating immediately after receiving a distress signal from the Danish boat, Slente said.
All relatives of those on board the boat have been informed of the events and are in close contact with the Danish authorities, Slente told the station.
"This is a very difficult situation – even to relatives. Not least because there are children involved, and therefore we are asking the Danish media about being gentle on the relatives, " she said.
For security reasons the Ministry would not supply any further details on the missing passengers, DR News reported.
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