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| Chennai Six: Britons released from Indian jail | Chennai Six: Britons released from Indian jail |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Six British former soldiers have been released from an Indian prison four years after being arrested and detained on weapons charges. | |
| The so-called Chennai Six, who had been guards on a ship to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean, won an appeal against their convictions on Monday. | The so-called Chennai Six, who had been guards on a ship to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean, won an appeal against their convictions on Monday. |
| They have now been escorted out of Chennai Central Prison by British consulate officials. | |
| They said they were discussing the next step with the Indian authorities. | |
| Lawyers representing the men say they will have to spend some more time in India before they can expect to return home. | Lawyers representing the men say they will have to spend some more time in India before they can expect to return home. |
| The men, who were working on the anti-piracy ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio, are: | |
| They were arrested in 2013, after customs officials and police found weapons and ammunition on board, which Indian authorities said had not been properly declared. | They were arrested in 2013, after customs officials and police found weapons and ammunition on board, which Indian authorities said had not been properly declared. |
| Initially charges were quashed, when the men argued that the weapons were lawfully held for anti-piracy purposes and the paperwork, issued by the UK government, was in order. | Initially charges were quashed, when the men argued that the weapons were lawfully held for anti-piracy purposes and the paperwork, issued by the UK government, was in order. |
| But a lower court reinstated the prosecution and in January 2016 were sentenced to five years in prison. | But a lower court reinstated the prosecution and in January 2016 were sentenced to five years in prison. |
| The men's families welcomed the acquittal, and many expressed hope that the men would be home by Christmas. | The men's families welcomed the acquittal, and many expressed hope that the men would be home by Christmas. |
| A British consulate spokesman said: "The government shares their happiness. | |
| "We are working with the Indian authorities to discuss the next step and we will continue to offer the men and their families consular assistance for as long as needed." | "We are working with the Indian authorities to discuss the next step and we will continue to offer the men and their families consular assistance for as long as needed." |