Replies

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11020147.htm
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

“Somali Pirates Shoot Retired Couple Sailing the World Delivering Bibles.”

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
SOMALIA

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/februaryweb-only/somalipirates.html

“Somali Pirates Kill Bible Distributors
Scott Adam, a graduate of Fuller Seminary, was killed with three others after they were taken hostage.”

by Sarah Pulliam Bailey | posted 2/22/2011 11:39AM

SNIPPET: “The pirates in northern Somalia are not hard-line Islamists and a yacht carrying Bibles is not likely to be a problem, the AP reports.”

http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/02/somali_pirates_kill_four_us_ci.php

“Somali pirates kill 4 US citizens”
By BILL ROGGIO
February 22, 2011 10:38 PM

SNIPPET: “Earlier today, Somali pirates murdered four US citizens who were being held hostage as negotiations for their release were underway. Vice Admiral Mark Fox, the commander of Central Command’s naval forces, briefed the media on what is currently known about the murders.

The Somali pirates executed the four US civilians after opening fire on a nearby US warship with a rocket-propelled grenade. The naval task force then dispatched special operations teams using small boats (the special operators were without a doubt SEALs). Once aboard, the special operations forces discovered that the four Americans had been shot dead; they also found two dead pirates. Two other pirates were killed as the team cleared the yacht; one of the pirates was killed in a close-quarters knife fight. Thirteen pirates on the yacht surrendered as the special operations team boarded the yacht. Two other pirates, who were aboard a US warship to negotiate the Americans’ release, are also in custody.”

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62885

“Somali Pirates Kill 4 Americans on Hijacked Ship”

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2011 –

SNIPPET: “Somali pirates killed all four Americans they had held hostage aboard a sailing vessel in the Indian Ocean this morning, U.S. Central Command officials announced.

U.S. officials were negotiating with the pirates for the safe return of the captured Americans when the murders took place, officials said.

Centcom officials said that in the midst of negotiations, U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the S/V Quest. When the forces reached the boat, officials said, they discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors.

Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds.”

SNIPPET: “The pirates seized the boat Feb. 18 off the coast of Oman. Somali pirates -– often operating from mother ships far out to sea — have captured scores of ships and generally have held the ships and crews for ransom. News reports indicate Somali pirates currently hold 29 ships with more than 660 hostages.”

http://www.centcom.mil/press-releases/u-s-forces-respond-to-gunfire-aboard-the-s-v-quest

“U.S. forces respond to gunfire aboard the S/V Quest”

CENTCOM Public Affairs
TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2011) —

SNIPPET: “US Forces have been closely monitoring the S/V Quest for approximately 3 days, once it became known to be pirated. Four U.S. Navy warships comprised the response force dedicated to recovering the S/V Quest: the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Bulkeley (DDG 84). The ships are deployed to the region to conduct maritime security operations and to provide support to operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.”

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11020130.htm

Saturday, February 19, 2011

“U.S. considers military action after pirates ‘seize’ a yacht belonging to a Southern California Christian couple
They were on a worldwide voyage distributing Bibles”

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
SOMALIA

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stepping back in time to a separate incident:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31458

“The Somali Pirates Are Jihadists”
by Robert Spencer
04/15/2009

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Keywords of Interest:

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/christianpersecution/index?tab=articles

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/killingchristians/index?tab=articles

NOTE The following text is a quote:

norfolk.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/nf052011.htm

Three Somalis Plead Guilty to Charges Relating to Piracy of Quest
Pirate Attack Resulted in Murder of Four U.S. Citizens

NORFOLK, VA—Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali, a/k/a Sanadaaq, 32; Mohamud Salad Ali, a/k/a Juguuf, 35; and Ali Abdi Mohamed, a/k/a Basher, 30, all of Somalia, pled guilty today in Norfolk federal court to acts of piracy and hostage-taking against the S/V Quest, which resulted in the murder of United States citizens Scott Underwood Adam, Jean Savage Adam, Phyllis Patricia Macay, and Robert Campbell Riggle.

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office; Alex J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark Russ, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in Norfolk, made the announcement after the pleas were accepted by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.

“These men have admitted to pirating an American yacht and holding four U.S. citizens hostage at gunpoint for ransom. Tragically, their piracy led to the execution of the four American hostages,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Piracy is big business in Somalia, and today pirates got another reminder of the tremendous cost of participating in this criminal venture. If you pirate an American ship, you will be caught and you’ll face severe consequences in an American courtroom.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk stated: “Today’s pleas are a crucial step in the judicial process. Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali and Mohamud Salad Ali, the leaders of these violent pirates, were armed hijackers who directed their subordinates to take hostages and seize the Quest, resulting in the death of four innocent Americans. Ali Abdi Mohamed fired a rocket propelled grenade at a U.S. Navy vessel. Modern piracy isn’t swordplay and derring-do; it’s armed robbery and cold-blooded murder at sea. The FBI remains determined to see pirates brought to justice.”

Today, Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali and Mohamud Salad Ali, both of whom acknowledged in connection with their pleas that they served as leaders of the piracy operation, pled guilty to piracy under the law of nations and hostage-taking resulting in death. The charges each carry a mandatory life sentence.

Ali Abdi Mohamed, who acknowledged in connection with his plea that he fired a rocket propelled grenade in the course of the crime, pled guilty to piracy under the law of nations. The charge carries a mandatory life sentence.

All three defendants warranted in their plea agreements that they played no role in the murder of the four United States citizens.

Sentencing for Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali is scheduled for September 6, 2011. Mohamud Salad Ali is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2011, and sentencing for Ali Abdi Mohamed is scheduled for August 22, 2011.

The investigation of the case is being conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin L. Hatch, Joseph DePadilla, and Brian J. Samuels, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Trial Attorney Paul Casey from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.

May 24, 2011

NOTE The following text is a quote:

norfolk.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/nf052411.htm

Two More Somalis Plead Guilty to Charges Relating to Piracy of Quest
Pirate Attack Resulted in Murder of Four U.S. Citizens

NORFOLK, VA—Said Abdi Fooley, a/k/a Saed Abdi Fooley,” a/k/a “Said,” 22, and Abdi Jama Aqid, a/k/a “Abdi Mahad Jama,” a/k/a “Dabid,” age estimated between 24 and 28, both of Somalia, pled guilty today in Norfolk federal court to acts of piracy against the S/V Quest, which resulted in the murder of United States citizens Scott Underwood Adam, Jean Savage Adam, Phyllis Patricia Macay, and Robert Campbell Riggle.

“Fooley and Aqid put four Americans’ lives in danger to get tens of thousands of dollars in ransom money,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Tragically, their hostages were executed before they could be rescued, and the Somalis were taken from the high seas to face American justice in an American courtroom.”

Both pled guilty today to piracy under the law of nations, which carries a mandatory life sentence. Fooley admitted that he was looking for a job as a pirate in hope of hijacking another boat to make money. He also admitted that during the pirate operation he had carried a FAL, a semi-automatic assault rifle, which had been given to him to carry on the Quest. Aqid admitted that he knew that the plan was to capture a boat, take it to the beach, and get a ransom. He thought he could get $70,000-$80,000. His job was to spot the ships. They admitted that they willingly engaged in piracy for financial gain and participated in the pirating of the Quest and in the taking of the four Americans on board as hostages. The two defendants warranted in their plea agreements that they did not personally shoot any of the four Americans, nor did they instruct any other person to shoot the hostages.

Sentencing for Said Abdi Fooley is scheduled for September 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. and sentencing for Abdi Jama Aquid is scheduled for September 9, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

The investigation of the case is being conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin L. Hatch, Joseph DePadilla, and Brian J. Samuels, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Trial Attorney Paul Casey from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

NOTE The following text is a quote:

www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/somali-pirates-sentenced-to-multiple-life-sentences-in-murders-of-four-americans-aboard-sv-quest

Somali Pirates Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences in Murders of Four Americans Aboard SV Quest

U.S. Attorney’s Office
November 14, 2013

Eastern District of Virginia

NORFOLK, VA—Somali nationals Ahmed Muse Salad, a/k/a “Afmagalo,” 27, Abukar Osman Beyle, 33, and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, 31, who were previously found guilty of piracy, murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, violence against maritime navigation, conspiracy to commit violence against maritime navigation resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, hostage taking resulting in death, conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, and multiple firearms offenses, were sentenced this week. Salad, Beyle, and Abrar were all sentenced to 21 life sentences, 19 consecutive life sentences, two concurrent life sentences, and 30 years consecutive, for their roles in the February 22, 2011 murders of four Americans aboard the sailing vessel Quest. The victims included: Scott Underwood Adam, Jean Savage Adam, Phyllis Patricia Macay, and Robert Campbell Riggle.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s New York Field Office; Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Charles T. May, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief United States District Court Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

“These defendants, in violation of U.S. and international law, commandeered an American-flagged sailing vessel, refused to release the hostages to the Navy, and brutally murdered the four Americans on board,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boente. “The multiple, consecutive life sentences imposed today send a clear message that piracy, hostage-taking, and murder on the high seas will not be tolerated.”

Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “The sad fact about this case is that four Americans are dead because of the actions taken by the defendants and their associates in the form of modern-day piracy. On a fateful day in February 2011, they boarded the sailing vessel Quest with the goal of using violence to get monetary gains. Today’s life sentences provide a vigorous deterrent to armed bandits roaming our seas. The FBI remains vigilant in our responsibility to bring these pirates to justice.”

Special Agent in Charge Charles T. May said, “NCIS worked closely with our uniformed partners in the Navy, the FBI, and the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Virginia in bringing these Somali pirates to justice for their senseless kidnapping and murder of four American citizens. Piracy and other transnational crimes such as narcoterrorism and human trafficking represent global threats to maritime security. NCIS, with our unique mission, is especially well-suited to investigating acts of piracy on the high seas, and we will continue to work with our U.S. and foreign law enforcement partners and prosecutorial entities from the U.S. and foreign nations to eradicate this global menace. “

Salad, Beyle, and Abrar, were indicted in a 26-count indictment on July 8, 2011, and were found guilty by a federal jury on all 26 counts on July 8, 2013. According to court records and evidence at trial, Salad, Beyle, and Abrar, along with co-conspirators, gained control of the Quest while armed with firearms and a rocket-propelled grenade and took the four Americans hostage on February 18, 2011. Their plan was to take the hostages to Somalia, where they and their additional co-conspirators in Somalia could commence ransom negotiations. While they sailed toward Somalia, they took turns standing armed guard over the hostages; at the same time, United States Navy ships headed towards the Quest to aid the hostages and attempt to secure their safe release.

On February 22, 2011, without provocation and before the hostages could be rescued by members of the military, a co-conspirator fired an RPG in the general direction of the USS Sterett. Witnesses testified that sustained firing came from the Quest and that glass could be seen breaking on the starboard side of the Quest. Witnesses also testified that Salad, Beyle, and Abrar, were the shooters and responsible for the deaths of Scott Adam, Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay, and Robert Riggle. After the gunfire died down, the Navy dispatched SEALS to the Quest. The pirates aboard the Quest began surrendering and some were seen throwing AK-47 rifles into the water.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin L. Hatch, Joseph DePadilla, and Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.