BBC: Pirates want $7 million ransom for UK couple

Saturday 31st October, 06:04 AM JST

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Pukey2 at 12:24 PM JST - 31st October

And what's happening with the Chinese crew of another ship that was taken recently? Hasn't the Chinese military blown those pirates to Kingdom Come yet?
skipthesong at 01:13 PM JST - 31st October

If you look at a map where they were taken, you'll notice its quite far out. Seems these guys got some skills. They should go ahead and make a Navy.
fleetwood77 at 01:45 PM JST - 31st October

I wonder if the SBS will show up - I wouldn't like to be the kidnappers then
Foxie at 02:17 PM JST - 31st October

There a lot of peple out there who spend all their savings on 2nd hand yachts that are really not so expensive. You can buy them for 20,000 Euros. That's the sailors you rarely see in a marina usually anchoring somewhere. Loads of ports in the Med are also free. So, you don't need to be rich to owe a yacht nowadays.
Pump24 at 02:50 PM JST - 31st October

A say take a dozen yachts, fill them with SAS and Seals, and let them float off the Somali coast. It will not help this Brit couple, but it might make the pirates second guess their current business plan. Then again, probably not...
McC72 at 03:39 PM JST - 31st October

Pump24, I agree with you. I think some subs should be around
Sarge at 03:49 PM JST - 31st October

"We only need a little amount of $7 million"

Chump change!
manta60 at 04:41 PM JST - 31st October

A say take a dozen yachts, fill them with SAS and Seals, and let them float off the Somali coast.

Oh i can just imagine the response from the SAS to that one. hahah.
manta60 at 04:43 PM JST - 31st October

I wonder if the SBS will show up - I wouldn't like to be the kidnappers then I woulden't like to be the kidnapees either, collateral damage anyone LOl
tclh at 10:07 PM JST - 31st October

The couple seem doing OK, why the worry? Is their yacht worth $7 mil? Sell it and pay the pirates only that amount, no cost to tax payers. These pirates always demand astronomical amount first then go down to much smaller one later. Nah, government should just take time ,move slowly, slowly so pirates will have all the time on earth to look after this couple.
griff at 10:09 PM JST - 31st October

Let's see how the British Empire responds.

i'd like to see that too, seeing as it's been gone for almost a century
nandakandamanda at 10:50 PM JST - 31st October

The pirates often set their sights high and settle for a lot less. Maybe they are hoping for a minimum of 1 million...

I reckon this couple have a pension, and enough money to support them for a few years, rich by many people's standards, but certainly not millionaires.
sundoor at 12:25 AM JST - 1st November

"The pirates often set their sights high and settle for a lot less. Maybe they are hoping for a minimum of 1 million..."

Even only 1 million would still get you more guns, ammo, more guys to join your crew... By being captured the British couple are aiding the pirates. They should be treated as part of the crew now and forgotten.
sundoor at 12:29 AM JST - 1st November

...the whole situation may be staged, anyway.
bushlover at 02:28 AM JST - 1st November

[what pirates see as a business transaction into something more hostile]

What is more hostile than taking hostages at gunpoint? Give them a ransom delivered with a cruise missile. Too bad for the Chandlers straying too close to a notorious pirate infested water body.