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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Yacht couple 'taken at gunpoint' | Yacht couple 'taken at gunpoint' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has told how he and his wife were kidnapped by armed pirates while the pair slept aboard their yacht in the Indian Ocean. | A man has told how he and his wife were kidnapped by armed pirates while the pair slept aboard their yacht in the Indian Ocean. |
| Paul Chandler, of Kent, speaking by phone to ITV news, said: "I was asleep and men with guns came aboard." | Paul Chandler, of Kent, speaking by phone to ITV news, said: "I was asleep and men with guns came aboard." |
| Searches for Mr Chandler, 59, and his wife, Rachel, 55, began on Friday, after the pair sent a distress signal. | Searches for Mr Chandler, 59, and his wife, Rachel, 55, began on Friday, after the pair sent a distress signal. |
| Their yacht was discovered during counter-piracy operations on Wednesday, but the couple were not on board. | Their yacht was discovered during counter-piracy operations on Wednesday, but the couple were not on board. |
| 'No ransom demand' | 'No ransom demand' |
| Mr Chandler, from Tunbridge Wells, said the raid had come in the early hours. | |
| He said: "I was off watch. I was asleep and men with guns came aboard. It was on Friday last week at 0230." | He said: "I was off watch. I was asleep and men with guns came aboard. It was on Friday last week at 0230." |
| The kidnapped man's brother-in-law, Stephen Collett, has confirmed that the voice in the phone call is that of Mr Chandler. | The kidnapped man's brother-in-law, Stephen Collett, has confirmed that the voice in the phone call is that of Mr Chandler. |
| Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists Foreign Office | |
| The armed pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. | The armed pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. |
| Mr Chandler said the pair were being held hostage on a container ship called the Kota Wajah. | Mr Chandler said the pair were being held hostage on a container ship called the Kota Wajah. |
| But he said their captors had not officially asked for a ransom. | But he said their captors had not officially asked for a ransom. |
| He said: "They kept asking for money and took everything of value on the boat." | He said: "They kept asking for money and took everything of value on the boat." |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: "Hostage taking is never justified. | |
| "Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists and they should be released immediately and unconditionally. | |
| "The families are deeply concerned for the safety of their loved ones. | |
| "Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are in close contact with them and are offering support." |