Hostage rescued. Three captors shot dead.
Fearful the captain’s life was in danger, U.S. Navy snipers shoot captors in the head
Afraid that a group of pirates were about to kill Capt. Richard Phillips—who had been held captive aboard a lifeboat on the Indian Ocean since Wednesday after his cargo ship was taken over off the coast of Somalia by pirates—U.S. Navy snipers fatally shot three of his captors in the head and secured his rescue on Sunday. A fourth pirate, aboard the USS Bainbridge negotiating the captain’s release at the time, is in custody. Capt. Phillips, who was said to have an AK-47 aimed at his back when the snipers took action, was not injured in the rescue.
Get the Best of Maclean’s straight to your inbox.
Sign up for news, commentary and analysis. Join 60,000+ Canadian readers.