NACOP Terrorism Alert: Seafaring Somalian Terrorists Attack US Cruise Ship
Jim Kouri, CPP
November 05, 2005
A Seaborn Cruises luxury liner traveling off the coast of Somalia sailed into a serious attack by gunmen in speedboats early Saturday morning in an area known for violent piracy. Of all the passengers on board the oceanliner -- who were mostly American citizens -- only one received minor injuries.
David Dingle, a spokesman for the Miami-based Seabourn Cruises, told reporters that the 302 passengers were shocked but unharmed.
"The passengers were mustered in a public room, told what was going on and reassured that we were fighting off the attack."
According to the initial reports, the crew used their classified protection plan to thwart the terrorists. The defensive measures include the use of on-board loud acoustic equipment that simulates explosions to fight off the attackers, leading the terrorists to believe they were under heavy fire.
In mid-October, the International Maritime Bureau warned ships to stay as far away as possible from the Somali shore. In one travel advisory issued by the Australian governement security authorities, travelers are warned that the risk of terrorist attack against Western interests in Somalia remains high. Possible terrorist targets include commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as, but not limited to, hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, marketplaces, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas. Civil aviation and nautical travel are also possible targets.
Beginning last March, there are 23 documented attacks against oceangoing vessels, including one against a ship delivering food from the UN's World Food Program.
Civil unrest and political tensions persist in Somalia. Even Somalia's government avoids travel in that warlord and terrorist infested nation. The transitional federal government that was formed in October 2004 is actually based outside of Somalia. Despite the planned return of the transitional federal government to Somalia over the coming months, the security situation remains tense and unpredictable.
There have been instances of kidnapping of foreigners for ransom by criminals and terrorists, who sometimes operate together. Widespread banditry, sporadic outbreaks of fighting and continued conflicts between militia groups are common. Anti-Western sentiments are strong in parts of the country.
Photographs taken of the so-called pirate indicate that the attackers were heavily armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. They wore black outfits similar to the ones worn by terrorists who are members of Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others.
Intelligence reports reveal that off-shoots of Al-Qaeda are based in Somalia, but it's not yet know whether they were involved in this particular attack.
David Dingle, a spokesman for the Miami-based Seabourn Cruises, told reporters that the 302 passengers were shocked but unharmed.
"The passengers were mustered in a public room, told what was going on and reassured that we were fighting off the attack."
According to the initial reports, the crew used their classified protection plan to thwart the terrorists. The defensive measures include the use of on-board loud acoustic equipment that simulates explosions to fight off the attackers, leading the terrorists to believe they were under heavy fire.
In mid-October, the International Maritime Bureau warned ships to stay as far away as possible from the Somali shore. In one travel advisory issued by the Australian governement security authorities, travelers are warned that the risk of terrorist attack against Western interests in Somalia remains high. Possible terrorist targets include commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as, but not limited to, hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, marketplaces, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas. Civil aviation and nautical travel are also possible targets.
Beginning last March, there are 23 documented attacks against oceangoing vessels, including one against a ship delivering food from the UN's World Food Program.
Civil unrest and political tensions persist in Somalia. Even Somalia's government avoids travel in that warlord and terrorist infested nation. The transitional federal government that was formed in October 2004 is actually based outside of Somalia. Despite the planned return of the transitional federal government to Somalia over the coming months, the security situation remains tense and unpredictable.
There have been instances of kidnapping of foreigners for ransom by criminals and terrorists, who sometimes operate together. Widespread banditry, sporadic outbreaks of fighting and continued conflicts between militia groups are common. Anti-Western sentiments are strong in parts of the country.
Photographs taken of the so-called pirate indicate that the attackers were heavily armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. They wore black outfits similar to the ones worn by terrorists who are members of Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others.
Intelligence reports reveal that off-shoots of Al-Qaeda are based in Somalia, but it's not yet know whether they were involved in this particular attack.
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