FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 file photo, masked Somali pirate Hassan stands near a Taiwanese fishing vessel that washed up on shore after the pirates were paid a ransom and released the crew, in the once-bustling pirate den of Hobyo, Somalia. A U.N. official said Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 that Somali pirates have released four Thai sailors who were held hostage for nearly five years, after their ship the FV Prantalay 12 was seized by Somali pirates on April 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh, File) (The Associated Press)
MOGADISHU, Somalia – A U.N. official says Somali pirates have released four Thai sailors who were held hostage for nearly five years.
The U.N. Special Representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay said Friday that the four released on Wednesday were sailors of the FV Prantalay 12 vessel, seized by Somali pirates on April 18 2010. Kay said this is the longest period of captivity of hostages held by Somali pirates.
Kay said the ship was used by the pirates as a base before it eventually capsized in July 2011 and the remaining crew were taken ashore.
Kay said in a statement that six members of the original crew of 24 succumbed to illness and 14 crew members from Myanmar were released to the Puntland Maritime Police authorities and repatriated in May 2011.
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