Unfortunately I have to inform you that this story is sadly true.
It has been a very long night. The marina was attacked by an armed group last night at 2300.
This was a targeted hostage attack.
Unfortunately four of our fellow sailors have been beaten and forcibly taken at gun point.
Two of the skippers John Risdel 'Aziza" and Kjartan Sekkingstad 'Wimsun' were taken when they went to the aid of an American couple, Steve and Cass 'Outstripp' who were being beaten by the group in the
cockpit of their
boat, they managed to escape the attack however sustained
head injuries. John and Kjarten were hit with the gun stocks and then had
guns pointed at them and dragged away. Another Couple Rob Hall and his partner 'Renova' were also forcibly removed from their
boat by another group targeting the other marina finger at the same time.
The group attacked the first boats they came to that were open with crew on board.
The attackers were armed and violent.
As the rest of the marina responding to the
noise the attackers left and escaped with the three skippers and Robs partner.
I attempted to raise a Mayday
alarm on ch 16, however we received no response.
It took quite a long time to raise the
alarm as the only
security guard was missing. By the time first responders arrived the attackers were long gone.
We are very concern about the developments here and even more concerned for our fellow sailors.