Spanish seamen captured by pirates plead for help
The New York Times
Crew members of a Spanish fishing ship seized by Somali pirates over a month ago pleaded with their relatives on Thursday to press the Spanish government to do more to gain their release.
The relatives said that during telephone calls placed from the Alakrana, a 100-meter tuna-fishing vessel held off the Somali coast, captives briefly described their plight and said the pirates had followed through on their threat to start taking captives ashore. There are 16 Spaniards among a crew of 36.
Family members said the crew spoke at gunpoint, adding that they could hear in the background the explosion of a grenade that had been lobbed at a Spanish Navy frigate and shots fired into the air. The Spanish defense minister, Carme Chacón, confirmed that a grenade had been thrown at the frigate but said that it had caused no damage or injuries. She said the pirates were using the relatives’ anguish to gain the upper hand.
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