Indonesia Says 10 Nationals Held Hostage After Ship Hijacked Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf suspected in ransom demand
http://www.wsj.com/articles/indonesia-says-10-nationals-held-hostage-after-ship-hijacked-1459224248
JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that 10 Indonesian nationals are being held hostage after their ship was hijacked in Philippine waters.
The ministry said in a statement that the owner of the hijacked tug boat and coal barge has received two telephone calls purportedly from militant group Abu Sayyaf, which is demanding a ransom.
It doesn’t know exactly when the incident occurred but said the shipowner was first contacted on Saturday. The ministry’s statement referred to the hostage takers as pirates.
Abu Sayyaf, which is on U.S. and Philippine lists of terrorist organizations, is notorious for bombings, extortions and kidnappings for ransom in the volatile south of the Philippines. It has been weakened by years of U.S.-backed Philippine military offensives but remains a security threat.
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