French Commandos Free Hostages off Somalia

Good to see the hostages were rescued and in good health. Paying out ransoms only encourages more kidnappings plus the money goes to terrorism. Globe & Mail

PARIS — French commandos stormed a sailboat to free two French tourists who were being held for ransom by heavily-armed Somali pirates, President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday.

One pirate was killed and six others taken prisoner in the pre-dawn assault by some 30 troops. The freed hostages and the captured pirates were put on a French navy vessel sailing towards Djibouti, where France has an army base.

“This operation ... is a warning to all those engaged in this criminal activity. France will not accept that crime pays,” Mr. Sarkozy said after the operation.

I would classify it as terrorist activity....

It was the second time this year that French troops had acted against Somali pirates. In April, French commandos captured six of them shortly after a ransom had been paid for the release of a French yacht and its 30-strong crew.

The couple freed on Tuesday were seized on Sept. 2 by gunmen who had demanded a ransom of more than $1.4-million and the release of the pirates captured in April.

Mr. Sarkozy said the freed hostages, who had been taking a sailing boat from Australia to France, were in good health.

He said he had ordered the assault on their boat when it became clear the pirates were sailing it to Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost now used by gangs.

Mr. Sarkozy said any rescue attempt from Eyl would have been too dangerous and the hostages could have been held for months.