TheRepublic.com - Hostage situations News

Cmdr: Navy told not to let hostages reach Somalia

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:01:18 -0400

NORFOLK, Virginia - The former commander of the USS Sterett says his orders were to prevent a band of Somali pirates from taking four American hostages with them to shore, but that his crew wasn't authorized to use lethal force.

Pope appeals for release of hostages in Syria

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 07:50:04 -0400

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis is appealing to the "humanity" of kidnappers in Syria to release hostages.

Reports: UK prisons alerted after hostage taking

Wed, 29 May 2013 07:39:07 -0400

LONDON - British prison officers have been warned to be on the lookout after a hostage drama blamed on extremist Muslim inmates, British newspapers reported Wednesday, a sign of simmering tension a week after an off-duty soldier was killed in a frenzied attack on a London street.

Fuel tanker reportedly hijacked off Nigeria coast

Tue, 28 May 2013 11:06:16 -0400

LAGOS, Nigeria - Pirates hijacked a fuel tanker off the coast of Nigeria's oil-rich delta, taking Pakistani and Nigerian sailors hostage in the latest attack targeting the region, private security officials said Tuesday.

14 killed in new anti-terror Philippine offensive

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:10:11 -0400

MANILA, Philippines - At least 14 Philippine marines and Abu Sayyaf militants were killed in a clash in a new U.S.-backed offensive aimed at rescuing six foreign and Filipino hostages and stopping the al-Qaida-linked gunmen from staging more kidnappings in the country's south, a military commander said Sunday.

Police kill San Diego armed robbery suspect

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:43:31 -0400

SAN DIEGO - An armed robbery suspect set off a dramatic manhunt Friday after he held up a San Diego gas station, fled in a stolen car, and held a woman hostage in a home before officers shot him to death.

Nixon library hosts reunion for Vietnam POWs

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:59:41 -0400

YORBA LINDA, California - U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Doug Burns was on a night reconnaissance mission searching for enemy trucks when he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and taken prisoner during the Vietnam War.

Douglas man accused of holding 2 women hostage

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:54:22 -0400

PHOENIX - Federal authorities say a Douglas man is accused of holding two Guatemalan sisters hostage, beating them and attempting to extort money from their family.

5 Serbs released from Libya after 21 months

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:35:21 -0400

BELGRADE, Serbia - Officials say five Serbian citizens have returned home after spending 21 months in captivity in Libya.

Israel gunman shoots 4 dead at bank, kills self

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:35:12 -0400

JERUSALEM - A gunman stormed into a bank in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba Monday, killing four people in a gunfight and taking a hostage before killing himself, police said.