Obama’s comments upped the ante in the struggle against piracy in the lawless shipping lanes off Somalia, hours after a pirate chief threatened to target Americans in revenge for the loss of his men.
“The American liars have killed our friends after they agreed to free the hostage without ransom... this matter will lead to retaliation and we will hunt down particularly American citizens travelling our waters,” chief Abdi Garad told AFP by phone from the pirate lair of Eyl.
“We will intensify our attacks even reaching very far away from Somalia waters, and next time we get American citizens... they (should) expect no mercy from us.”