http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hostages/ en-us Fri, 1 Jan 2010 07:33:43 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418852/posts A 33-year-old El Monte school board member and five other men were shot dead execution-style in north central Mexico on Wednesday night, after they were abducted by gunmen, according to family members. Agustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo was having dinner with his wife in a restaurant when armed men burst in and kidnapped Salcedo and five other men. All six were found dead Thursday, El Monte officials said. Salcedo’s wife was not abducted. LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418852/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 07:33:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418770/posts Gen. David Petraeus, former U.S. commander in Iraq, reportedly is “absolutely certain” that British hostage Peter Moore was held secretly in Iran for part of his 31-month ordeal. Petraeus’s claim is likely to intensify the bitter diplomatic relationship between London and Tehran. Moore, an IT consultant, was set free Wednesday after the United States handed over an Iraqi insurgent suspected of planning the deaths of five American servicemen. He was released by the League of the Righteous, or Asaib al-Haq (AAH) – an extremist Shia group allied to Iran – and his first night of freedom was spent at the... The Times/Fox http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418770/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 03:04:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418169/posts The British hostage Peter Moore was dramatically set free yesterday after the United States handed over an Iraqi insurgent suspected of planning the deaths of five American servicemen. Mr Moore, an IT consultant, was freed by League of the Righteous, or Asaib al-Haq (AAH) — an extremist Shia group allied to Iran — after 31 months and spent his first night of freedom at the British Embassy in Baghdad. He is expected to fly home today. Times on line http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418169/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:24:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416575/posts Somali pirates holding a Chinese cargo ship and its crew of 25 said Sunday they would release the vessel after collecting a ransom of 3.5 million dollars (2.2 million euros) later in the day. The bulk carrier Dexinhai, owned by Qingdao Ocean Shipping, was seized on October 18 northeast of the Seychelles as it was sailing to India from South Africa with a cargo of coal. It was subsequently taken to the Somali coast, between the pirate lairs of Harardere and Hobyo, where it laid at anchor with other captured vessels and negotiations on its fate began. "We have been... Terra Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416575/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:15:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415135/posts KABUL -- The Taliban distributed a new video Friday of a U.S. soldier who was captured this summer in Afghanistan, with an offer to release him in a prisoner exchange.A spokesman for the international forces here denounced the video, but declined to comment on the possibility of an exchange or on efforts to rescue the captive.Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, an airborne infantryman from Ketchum, Idaho, was seized by Taliban-aligned militants on June 30. The military says he is the only American soldier who has been captured by insurgent forces during the war here. The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415135/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:50:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414915/posts The Taliban released a video Friday showing a U.S. soldier who was captured more than five months ago in eastern Afghanistan. Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl is the only known American serviceman in captivity. The U.S. airborne infantryman was taken by the Afghan Taliban in Paktika province on June 30. AP/YahooNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414915/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:00:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414861/posts KABUL (AP) - The Taliban released Friday a video purporting to show a U.S. soldier who was captured more than five months ago in eastern Afghanistan. Associated Press / Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414861/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:51:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2414288/posts WYTHEVILLE, Va., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A gunman with explosives who had held hostages for about eight hours at the Wytheville, Va., Post Office apparently has surrendered, police said. The man rolled himself onto the street in a wheelchair and was lying on the ground on his stomach as about 20 officers wearing shields approached him, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, Va., reported Wednesday night. State Police Sgt. Mike Conroy said three hostages have emerged from the building and officers were checking to make sure nobody else was inside. Police exercised caution because "we don't know what he had," Conroy said, The Wytheville... UPI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2414288/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:12:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414459/posts A man suspected of taking hostages in a post office in the US state of Virginia has been arrested after a stand-off lasting several hours, police say. Authorities in Wytheville persuaded Warren Taylor to give himself up and release three people he was holding. Mr Taylor was reported to have entered the post office pushing a wheelchair and claiming to be carrying explosives. He initially fired shots from the building but no-one was reported to have been injured. bbc http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414459/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:44:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414169/posts Wytheville, Virginia Mayor Trent Crewe says a disabled man entered the post office around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The man fired one shot. He’s holding 3 postal workers and 2 customers hostage. Crewe said there are unconfirmed reports that man may have a device on him. The man’s car outside the post office also appears to be equipped with some type of device. No one has been injured, and police are negotiating with the man. WSLS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414169/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:20:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414087/posts <p>The man entered the Wytheville, Virginia, post office about 2:30 p.m. and fired a shot, Mayor Trent Crewe said. No one has been hurt, but three postal workers and two customers are being held hostage, he said.</p> <p>There also are reports that the man has a "device" and it appears the man's car, parked outside the office, is equipped with some type of device, Crewe said. He did not elaborate on what the device could be.</p> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414087/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:13:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412855/posts Mauritania government has increased security for tourists in the country following the abductions last week of two Italian tourists near the border with Mali. Sergio Cicala and his wife Philomene Kabouree were kidnapped in an area of Mauritania where armed groups with links to Al-Qaeda are known to operate, diplomats said. There are suspicions the couple may have been smuggled into neighbouring Mali. "After these new kidnappings, it has been decided to adopt all necessary measures to ensure the personal security of foreigners in our country," the government said, quoted on Monday by pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi. It was the... ADNKRONOS.com - AKI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412855/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:05:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404383/posts MANILA, Philippines - Bandits have seized about 75 hostages, including elementary school students and teachers, from a village in the southern Philippines, an official said. Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. of Agusan del Sur province said 19 gunmen entered the isolated hamlet of San Martin on Thursday, a day after authorities chased them away from a nearby village. He said police were pursuing the gunmen, who appeared to be using the hostages as human shields to escape. MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404383/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:45:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402640/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Capture of Three Members of Colombian Terrorist Group Charged with Hostage-Taking of U.S. Citizen PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JOHN V. GILLIES, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Miami Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") and MICHELE M. LEONHART, the Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), announced today the arrest of EDILBERTO BERRIO ORTIZ, a/k/a "El Gavilan," ALEJANDRO PALACIOS RENGIFO, a/k/a "El Gato," a/k/a "Yimi," and ANDERSON CHAMAPURO DOGIRAMA, a/k/a "El Tigre," a/k/a "Dairon," three members of the... NewYork.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402640/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 05:56:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401716/posts SNIPPET: "Three Spanish aid workers were kidnapped in the North African nation Mauritania on Sunday. Spain’s Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, expressed his concerns that kidnappers could be members of the North African branch of Al Qaeda." SNIPPET: "The names of the workers kidnapped are Alicia Gámez, Roque Pascual and Albert Vilalta. Vilalta’s father, Albert Vilalta is a former regional councilor for the environment." SPANISH NEWS.es http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401716/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 23:26:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397460/posts The racing yacht, the Kingdom Of Bahrain, owned by Sail Bahrain and crewed by the five Britons, was stopped by Iranian naval vessels last Wednesday as it sailed from Bahrain to Dubai. The crew members are still in Iran and are understood to be safe and well. Their families have been informed. The Foreign Office said the yacht might have "inadvertently" strayed into Iranian waters. The sailors were heading to Dubai to join the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race. One of the men onboard has been named as David Bloomer, believed to be a radio presenter in Bahrain. A source later... ITN for Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397460/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 08:55:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2392205/posts According to the Saudi Network, al-Arabiya (via Ynet), Gilad Shalit, Kidnapped by Hamas over three years ago, may be coming home as soon as this coming Friday. It will be a four-stage deal. Israel will release 450 terrorists, custody of Shalit will be transferred to the Egyptian Government. Israel will follow up by releasing the another 650 terrorists and Egypt will transfer Shalit to the Israel. I assume that means that Hamas believes that one Jewish life is worth 1,000 Arab terrorist lives. Israel had agreed to release 1,000 prisoners months ago, within the group 450 specific prisoners were demanded... Ynet News/Fox News/The Lid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2392205/posts#comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:09:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390559/posts Iran (MNN) ― It is with great joy that Open Doors confirms the release of Maryam Rostampour, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, today. For around nine months, the two Iranian Christian women have been held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, two Christian converts from Islam, were released from Evin Prison in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran (MNN) ― It is with great joy that Open Doors confirms the release of Maryam Rostampour, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, today. For around nine months, the two Iranian Christian women have been held in the notorious... Mission Network News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390559/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:36:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390564/posts MOGADISHU, Somalia — As a Spanish warship looked on, a $3.3 million ransom was delivered by boat Tuesday and Somali pirates freed a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members. Spain's prime minister did little to deny paying off the hijackers — one reason the lucrative attacks are on the rise. "The government did what it had to do," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a news conference in Madrid. "The important thing is that the sailors will be back with us. The first obligation of a country, of the government of a state, is to save the lives... The Associated Press (hosted on Google) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390564/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:06:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389084/posts Operation HOTFOOT EDS was founded not only with the spirit of heroism but also with integral components to its business philosophy—teamwork, performance, and commitment. This year EDS celebrates the 25th anniversary of the singular event that defines this philosophy: the daring rescue of two of EDS' own employees imprisoned in Iran. On March 26, 2004, a panel discussion moderated by former TV newsman Murphy Martin marked the anniversary with laughter and much emotion. Taking part in the moderated session were Jeff Heller, EDS' president and chief operating officer; former hostages Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord; company founder Ross Perot; and... medicaid.state.ar.us http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389084/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:52:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2385544/posts Ok, I got up this morning and got one of the biggest shocks of my life. I checked my School work, and I am taking a History class right now from a professor that I have been angling to get for about 6 months at American Military University. He has a Bio that is amazing, a real Military hero and a serious scholar as well. Anyway, I had a short essay topic that I did regarding the Middle East Iran Iraq and touched on the Hostage crisis, and the rescue attempt that failed to rescue the hostages. It was sort... Me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2385544/posts#comment Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:05:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382070/posts The Philippine government on Monday vowed to take revenge against Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants after they dumped the severed head of a kidnapped school principal at a petrol station. The head of Gabriel Canizares was found inside a bag at the petrol station on the restive southern island of Jolo at dawn, 22 days after he was abducted, but the rest of his body remained missing, local police said. AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382070/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 14:20:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378818/posts Freedom: Young Iranians had a surprise Wednesday for mullah rulers celebrating the anniversary of the 1979 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tehran: angry protests. Why aren't we giving them more support? The big hate-America bacchanal was to commemorate the glorious crime against the U.S. 30 years ago, when "student" hoods stormed our sovereign embassy, preened before TV cameras, danced around with rifles and paraded dozens of blindfolded U.S. diplomats, military men and CIA officers as hostages. Then-President Jimmy Carter, whose sanctimonious refusal to get tough helped lengthen the ordeal to 444 days, enabled these terrorists to consolidate their "revolution,"... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378818/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 01:42:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2379324/posts Obama: “wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran” Obama Administration on Anniversary of Embassy and Hostage Seizure in Iran: We're trying to be Friends! By Barry Rubin thelastcrusade.com Will Rogers, the great American comedian of the 1920s and 1930s, famously said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” The problem with the Obama Administration, at least so far, is that it has never met an enemy that it could identify as such.Of course, the story isn’t over yet. Indeed, one does see signs of change. But we are still... The Last Crusade http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2379324/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:37:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378023/posts The source of anti-American Islamic Terrorism started today, Nov 4, 1979, in Tehran, Iran. Thank You Jimmy Carter, for abandoning the Shah The Hostage Rescue Attempt http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378023/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 04:54:13 GMT