Posted on 11/06/2005 2:40:49 PM PST by mdittmar
Edited on 11/07/2005 12:17:34 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
AN unexploded missile is embedded in an accommodation unit after a possible terrorist attack off the east African coast, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said today.
The passengers on the US-owned Seabourn Spirit were woken by machinegun fire and a rocket-propelled grenade crashing into the vessel at dawn on Saturday about 160km off the coast of the lawless nation of Somalia. The luxury cruise ship is about to dock in the Seychelles, but Mr Downer said that could be delayed while officials disarm the unexploded ordnance.
"We're not sure whether in the early stages the ship will be able to tie up at the wharf there because of concern about an unexploded rocket that is embedded in some of the passenger accommodation of the ship," Mr Downer told the Nine Network.
"American officials are going to board it initially to deal with that problem, and once that problem's dealt with then our consular officer will be able to go on board as well."
The attack was believed to have been carried out by pirates, but Mr Downer said it may have been a terrorist act.
"The whole thing is an extraordinary story, that it would be attacked by, we're not quite sure who at this stage, but it's possible the people who attacked the ship were terrorists," he said.
Mr Downer said it was not known exactly how many Australians were on board, with 13 named on the ship's passenger list and another six who were thought to have joined the cruise.
The ship, with more than 300 people on board, was on its way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa where it was due to pick up more passengers, including Australians.
Those Australians will now be met by a consular official from Australia's embassy in Nairobi.
The passengers awoke about 5.30am on Saturday to the sound of gunfire as two armed vessels approached the Seabourn Spirit.
Sydney couple Gayle and Bob Meagher, who are aboard the ship, described the moment they realised they were in the firing line.
Mr Meagher said he could see the pirates shooting at the ship.
"It was a frightening experience to see the flash of a rocket launcher and you just wonder what's about to happen to you in the next couple of seconds," he told the Seven Network.
Ms Meagher said the captain stayed calm, warning passengers: "We have people shooting at us, we are going to try to outrun them."
"(It was) a little bit more exciting than we planned for," she said.
"The sounds were very sharp like doors banging."
The 7.5-metre inflatable boats approached the vessel and fired as their occupants attempted to get on board the liner.
Seabourn Spirit was not boarded, managing to outrun the attackers and change its course.
One member of the crew was slightly injured before the attackers were repulsed, a London-based Seabourn Cruises spokesman said. The crew member was reportedly hit by flying debris.
The ship has 161 crew members and 151 passengers.
The company said the ship, registered in the Bahamas, sustained minor damage and was safe to sail.
Patch on the wrong eye again?? The rum Thaaaargh.
(I can't believe even said that...)
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Advice-- Don't cruise off the shores of third world hell holes.
Just think if the captain had a mean streak in him. Running down those two little dingys would have been no problem, then we would have some evidence of who they are.
One report I read today said that the captain did indeed try to run one over but missed.
Its too bad the Captain didnt have an M-60 stowed away on the ship, so he could have sunk those turds.
Boat drink ping.....
In the past, terrorists have hijacked planes and ships (the Achille Lauro in 1985), in attempts to get their terrorist pals released from prison. Could be trying that again.
I think it was probably an attempt to get the money that they thought would be on board, but at the same time, they seem to have been better armed than most pirates in that area, who normally pick on freighters with only a few crew members on board.
Personally, I think anything is possible. They may simply have assumed that there would be a lot of money or valuables on board and they were going for that; or they may have had some bizarre plan to take the passengers hostage and demand ransome for them. I would suspect that Islam was behind it, but it was a pragmatic attack aimed at gathering funds rather than making a statement.
I'd rather see him back over them, but I guess I could get on board your plan. LOL
Nothing good ever comes of it... much like night 'swimmin.
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