- Title: Asian sailors released by Somali pirates arrive in Nairobi
- Date: 23rd October 2016
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (OCTOBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) FREED HOSTAGES ARRIVING IN NAIROBI AND EMBRACING EMBASSY OFFICIALS FREED HOSTAGE CRYING SIGN AT JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT READING (English) "INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGIONAL MANAGER FOR HORN OF AFRICA OCEANS BEYOND PIRACY, JOHN STEED, SAYING: "We have achieved what we have achieved today by getting tribal elders, religious leaders and the local community and the regional government all involved to put pressure on these guys to release these hostages. Four and a half years is unreasonable, it's just not right." STEED AND FREED HOSTAGES POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS FREED HOSTAGE TALKING TO EMBASSY OFFICIAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGIONAL MANAGER FOR HORN OF AFRICA OCEANS BEYOND PIRACY, JOHN STEED, SAYING: "We got the other guys out in 2013 and now it's great to be here today and to bring them home and hand them over to their embassies and their families." GROUP OF HOSTAGES STANDING OUTSIDE AIRPORT / ONE HUGGING OFFICIAL VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 7th November 2016 17:25
- Keywords: Nairobi Kenya Asian sailors hostage release capture freed pirates Somalia
- Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
- City: NAIROBI, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Reuters ID: LVA0015586L3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Two dozen freed Asian sailors arrived in Nairobi on Sunday (October 23), more than four years after their ship was hijacked by Somali pirates who held them captive in a small fishing village.
The 26 sailors from China, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Taiwan were seized when the Omani-flagged FV Naham 3 was hijacked close to the Seychelles in March 2012, when pirate attacks were common in the area.
Their arrival in Nairobi was both cheerful but at the same time sorrowful as sailors were seen weeping while embracing embassy officials.
The sailors were held in Dabagala near the town of Harardheere some 400 km northeast of the capital Mogadishu. Harardheere became known as Somalia's main pirate base at the height of the crisis.
Their period of captivity is one of the longest among hostages seized by pirates in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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