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Somalia: Western hostages freed in 'US military raid' | Somalia: Western hostages freed in 'US military raid' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a US military raid, officials say. | Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a US military raid, officials say. |
The overnight raid was carried out by military helicopters and involved US Navy Seals, unidentified Western officials said. | The overnight raid was carried out by military helicopters and involved US Navy Seals, unidentified Western officials said. |
A shoot-out followed but a Danish humanitarian group says the two hostages were unharmed. | A shoot-out followed but a Danish humanitarian group says the two hostages were unharmed. |
The two - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized on 25 October. | The two - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized on 25 October. |
They had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were abducted by gunmen near the north-central town of Galkayo. | |
The group helps dispose of unexploded bombs and teaches communities about the dangers of land mines. | The group helps dispose of unexploded bombs and teaches communities about the dangers of land mines. |
'Safe location' | |
The rescue party is said to have landed close to a compound where hostages were being held. | |
A local security official, Mohamed Nur, told AFP news agency that several of the pirates had been killed. | A local security official, Mohamed Nur, told AFP news agency that several of the pirates had been killed. |
The freed hostages were believed to have been flown to nearby Djibouti by the rescuers, he said. | The freed hostages were believed to have been flown to nearby Djibouti by the rescuers, he said. |
They were named as American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, of Denmark. | They were named as American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, of Denmark. |
The Danish Refugee Council, which had been involved in efforts to free them via mediation, said they were unharmed and "at a safe location". | The Danish Refugee Council, which had been involved in efforts to free them via mediation, said they were unharmed and "at a safe location". |
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington said the first hint of the successful operation appeared to come from US President Barack Obama himself - as he prepared to give the State of the Union address, he turned to his Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and said "Good job tonight." | The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington said the first hint of the successful operation appeared to come from US President Barack Obama himself - as he prepared to give the State of the Union address, he turned to his Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and said "Good job tonight." |
The US maintains a military presence in the tiny Horn of Africa state of Djibouti. | |
The US says Camp Lemonnier "serves as a key location from which US and coalition forces operate in the Horn of Africa". | |
About 2,500 personnel - including civilians and defence contractors are based there as well as armour, fighters and drones. |