U.S. Negotiating Release of American Writer in Somalia
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Days after the rescue of a U.S. aid worker held hostage in Somalia, officials are now working on the release of an American writer taken captive by pirates and now under the threat of death.
The writer was only supposed to be in the country for a few weeks to work on a book on piracy, though he’d reportedly been warned of the dangers he faced. On Saturday, he was grabbed by heavily armed men who’d overpowered his security.
At his family’s request, ABC News is withholding his name because relatives believe identifying him would increase his value to his abductors. A U.S. official told ABC News today that there was great concern for any American held hostage, but that there was hope the writer would be released unharmed.
The kidnapping occurred days before American aid worker Jessica Buchanan and Danish colleague Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, were rescued by Seal Team 6 in a daring mission at a remote encampment deep in northern Somalia.
Buchanan is currently at a U.S. base with her family, but her rescue early Wednesday seemed to put the American writer in greater danger.
“If they try again, we will all die together,” a spokesman for the pirates said. The pirates have changed locations three times.
A U.S. official told ABC News today that the United States was aware of the writer’s abduction when Buchanan was rescued.
“We did know but could not find any links or collusion between the two groups holding the hostages,” the official said tonight.
Early last year off the coast of Oman, four Americans were hijacked aboard their yacht. The FBI was negotiating their release when pirates launched a rocket-propelled grenade at a nearby U.S. ship.
A team of Navy Seals tried to rescue the Americans, but all four — two couples from California and Washington — were killed.
In 2010, 13 months after they were kidnapped by Somali pirates, British pair Paul and Rachel Chandler were released following the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
“That anger I felt that they were so cruel, so callous, just so despicable,” Rachel Chandler said at the time. “You have to find a way of dealing with that.”
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Congrats you may have covered his face, but you failed to cover the book!! My wife was able to find out the name in 2 mins. Don’t you guy’s think that the Pirates could do the same thing? The kidnapping would stop with people and countries quit paying the ransom!!!
Posted by: Brian M. Babey | January 27, 2012, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Alex, I’ll take “Surfing Books” for $100.
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What is “Sweetness and Blood” by M. S. M.?
Posted by: Alex | January 27, 2012, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
Should be called terrorist not pirates…. This is the very thing we went to Irac for. But one life is not valued unless it is more I guess.. However it causes trauma to many family and friends. They are blocking the waterways in a way that Iran would not be allowed to do. Just can’t seem to make sense of this. I feel for the ones who lost life and the loved ones who deal with it. I think it is time the government grows a backbone just as the times when they were fighting for the freedoms in this country during the civil war and slave movements. You can’t down play loss of life when it has been going on for years. But I guess it depends where the oil is. It’s funny how gas VW rabbits were getting 30+ miles to the gallon in the early 80s. Yet its a big to do today to see a care get over 40.. 30 years to get 10 miles is not a pat on the back. Just shows how much our own government can’t stand to have a loss in oil price or consumption but can for human life.. Thats sad and I feel bad for the people who now live with that senerio day after day when they have lost a love one that could have been prevented.
Posted by: krystal | January 29, 2012, 2:24 am 2:24 am