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US tourist and safari guide freed after kidnap in Uganda | US tourist and safari guide freed after kidnap in Uganda |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A US tourist and her guide have been rescued after they were kidnapped at gunpoint while on safari in Uganda. | A US tourist and her guide have been rescued after they were kidnapped at gunpoint while on safari in Uganda. |
Kimberly Endicott, 35, and Jean-Paul Mirenge were set upon as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on the evening of 2 April. | Kimberly Endicott, 35, and Jean-Paul Mirenge were set upon as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on the evening of 2 April. |
Ugandan Police said then that kidnappers used one of their phones to demand a ransom of $500,000 (£383,435). | Ugandan Police said then that kidnappers used one of their phones to demand a ransom of $500,000 (£383,435). |
Officials have now said the pair are "unharmed, in good health and in the safe hands of the joint security team". | Officials have now said the pair are "unharmed, in good health and in the safe hands of the joint security team". |
Search teams from the military, the Ugandan wildlife authority and a special police tourist protection force worked together to rescue Ms Endicott and Mr Mirenge. | Search teams from the military, the Ugandan wildlife authority and a special police tourist protection force worked together to rescue Ms Endicott and Mr Mirenge. |
Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo tweeted that they were rescued "by Ugandan security forces in the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo]", and that they were now in Kanungu in Uganda. | Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo tweeted that they were rescued "by Ugandan security forces in the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo]", and that they were now in Kanungu in Uganda. |
Queen Elizabeth National Park runs along part of the country's border with DR Congo. | Queen Elizabeth National Park runs along part of the country's border with DR Congo. |
Agence France-Presse quotes the tour company, Wild Frontiers Safaris, saying that the pair were freed after a ransom was paid to their kidnappers. | Agence France-Presse quotes the tour company, Wild Frontiers Safaris, saying that the pair were freed after a ransom was paid to their kidnappers. |
US President Donald Trump also tweeted about the rescue: "Pleased to report that the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families!" | US President Donald Trump also tweeted about the rescue: "Pleased to report that the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families!" |
After the kidnapping, police officials had said that a group of four gunmen "put the tourists on gun point, and grabbed two out of four tourists, before disappearing with them". | After the kidnapping, police officials had said that a group of four gunmen "put the tourists on gun point, and grabbed two out of four tourists, before disappearing with them". |
The other two tourists - reportedly an elderly couple - were rescued soon afterwards. | The other two tourists - reportedly an elderly couple - were rescued soon afterwards. |
After the return of Ms Endicott and Mr Mirenge, Mr Trump urged the Ugandan government to apprehend those responsible. | |
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni tweeted to reassure everyone that Uganda was safe for travel. |
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