Brits Paul Chandler Rachel Chandler Freed by Somali Pirates: Ransom Paid for Chandlers

Paul and Rachel Chandler, a British couple, have been released by Somali pirates who have held them in captivity "deep inland" for thirteen months, . The Chandler's were taken at gunpoint from their yacht on October 23, 2009 while sailing from Seychelles to Tanzania. Fox News said the couple appeared "well," but" tired." They were given cell phones once released. Information is scarce. Updates as available.

Paul and Rachel Chandler

AlJazeera English is saying a "significant amount of ransom money was paid."

Sources privy to the secret negotiations that led to the Chandlers' release have told Al Jazeera that $300,000 was paid to their captors - an amount far less than the millions of dollars the pirates initially demanded.

But the details of just who paid the ransom are sketchy. The British government has a long standing policy to not pay ransom to kidnappers.

Sources close to the case told Al Jazeera that the a money came from private donors and the Somali government, which has been involved in the negotiations to release them, and which is desperate for any positive news as it is rattled by daily fighting against al-Qaeda-linked groups.

Regardless of the source of the money, analysts believe that the captors lowered their ransom demand as the Chandlers became a security and financial liability.

"On the one hand, you had Al-Shabab fighters closing in on the captors, and on the other hand, the cost of securing and feeding the Chandlers was mounting," said Ali Omar Ahmed, a maritime security consultant.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook 

Friendly Fire Kills Linda Norgrove?

Here it comes. The Mail Online (U.K.) is saying that "friendly fire" from Navy SEALs killed a British woman, Linda Norgrove, as they tried to save her life and rescuse her from Muslim Taliban thugs. Nato and the U.S. are launching an investigation. Of course they are.

Linda Norgrove, 36, was snatched by the Taliban along with three Afghan colleagues on September 26, 2010. She was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy. She wore a burka. It didn't save her. She was moved from mud hut to mud hut - over and over.

A senior security source said: 'It was clear from very early on that the level of threat was very high that she would be moved from the very bad people who were holding her to even worse people across the border in Pakistan.

The last thing we wanted was for her to be passed into the hands of Al Qaeda.

One-hundred and fifty "heavily armed U.S. troops, supported by Afghan soldiers, launched the raid in the early morning hours of Saturday - before the dawn call to prayer. The troops wore-night vision goggles. Predator drones and Apache attack helicopters were standing by.

Americans fight the Taliban small arms fire for half an hour, and then make it through to where Linda Norgrove lay, guarded by about 8 Taliban. They find her alive but "fatally wounded." Urgent medical aid tried desperately to save her life.

If you read my blog with any regularity, you know that I am exasperated and saddened at the number of Westerners who travel to these dangerous areas to work in Islamic countries where they are hated. I understand that Afghanistan women, especially, need all the help they can get, but when a lovely young woman like Norgrove is in their midst, they are sure to have a target on their back the minute they step foot in the country. Every American is a target.

There must be a realization that if you get in trouble, you put the lives of others at risk, and in Afghanistan, it makes fighting a war so much worse. Linda Norgrove was working toward an MBA at the University of Warwick. She worked for the UN in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2008 and returned there in February of this year. The UN cannot protect anyone. The UN does not protect anyone. Please. Find other, safer places to spread charity, and to do doctoral work. Stay home where you will not need our Military.

General David Petraeus notified Prime Minister David Cameron today that Linda Norgrove may have died of a grenade thrown by the SEALs. This according to Cameron:

Miss Norgrove’s life was in 'grave danger' from the moment she was seized and there were fears that she might be passed up the terrorist chain to bases in Pakistan and put at greater peril if she was not rescued. 

'I am clear that the best chance of saving Linda’s life was to go ahead, recognising that any operation was fraught with risk for all those involved and success was by no means guaranteed,' Mr Cameron said.

Here is the story from the U.K.:

A British aid worker may have died when U.S. special forces lobbed a grenade in a frantic bid to save her from the Taliban.

Linda Norgrove, 36, was fatally wounded when  U.S. troops stormed the compound where she was being held hostage.

It was initially thought she died when her captors blew-up a suicide vest.

But today Prime Minister David Cameron said a review of the Navy SEALs' rescue operation had uncovered a new 'deeply distressing development' suggesting a grenade detonated by taskforce members may have been to blame.

If you must have an investigation, make it quick and let these heroes move on. God bless Linda Norgrove and God bless our Military.

Prime Minister David Cameron on Death of Linda Norgrove (video)

Posted by Maggie@Maggie's Notebook

Team Pindar Iranian Hostage: Iran Snags Five Brits: Dave Bloomer Iranian Hostage: Oil Smith Iranian Hostage

Five British sailors from The Team Pindar vessel are being held hostage by Iran. The story is, their racing yacht may have strayed into hostile Iranian waters. Two of the crew members names have been released at this time: allegedly held are Dave Bloomer and Oil Smith.

Team Pindar

Dave Bloomer

The yacht, owned by Sail Bahrain and crewed by five British sailors was captured on November 25th. Team Pindar was on their way to the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race. The yacht, dubbed the Kingdom of Bahrain - fully equipped with a satellite tracker, should have arrived in Dubai on November 26th for the vessel's first offshore race.

Bahrain - Iran - Dubai

Iran announced ten new nuclear enrichment facilities to be built in the near future. The country is also holding three young Americans in the terrifying Evin Prison in Tehran. The three supposedly strayed across a border separating Iraq and Iran last summer. Now we have five Brits held hostage, bringing back memories of the March 2007 Royal Marines who were captured and held by Iran for twelve days - again for straying into Iranian waters. Since the Kingdom of Bahrain is owned by Muslims, perhaps this British crew will have a bit more luck than the Americans.

Bahrain Team Pindar Promo Video from Bahrain Team Pindar on Vimeo.

Photos courtesy DailyMailUK

Missouri Governors Office: Breaking Hostage Crisis? Maybe Gunshots?

FOX New has just reported a breaking story in Jefferson City, Missouri where an alleged hostage crisis is believe to be underway at or near the office of Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon. Maybe gunshots. No other info at this time.  A Caution - this was a very short report from Harris Faulkner at Fox. You know how these things go. It could be nothing. It could be something. Updates when available. See updates below. New video below with Missouri Lieutenant General speaking.

Governor Office Building

Update 11:23 a.m. CDT
Harris Faulkner says she is speaking to someone on the second floor of the building where a possible hostage crisis is underway. She now says there have been no gunshots. The first floor of the building has been evacuated. No Missouri official has announced a hostage situation, at this time.

The AP reports that police have surrounded a Jefferson City office building NEAR the Governor's Mansion. Employees are remain in the building with their doors locked. There is no known threat to Governor Jay Nixon. The Missouri Public Service Commission offices are in the building.

Update 1:47 a.m. CDT
The name of the building surrounded by police today is The Governor Office Building, but it is not the Governor Nixon's office. In the new video below, time-stamped about 2 hours ago, the Lieutenant Governor says this building is located across the street from the Governor's Mansion



This report from Columbia Tribune about 1 hr. ago says a woman inside the building called the alarm company and reported a hostage situation. The report also says the woman making the call is being questioned by police.

  Jefferson City, Missouri Hostage Crisis - Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (video)
Photo Credit Parker Eshelman, Columbia Tribune