Pirates threaten to 'burn couples' bones'
Paul and Rachel Chandler
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 28, Oct 2009 03:02
By Richard James.
Somali pirates claiming to have kidnapped a British couple sailing to Tanzania have warned they will "burn their bones".
Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 58 and 55, from Tunbridge Wells, had been sailing in the Seychelles when they went missing last week.
Reports suggest they sent out a distress signal on Friday but have not been heard of since. Pirates operating in the area have since claimed to have taken the pair.
Speaking to Sky News one of the alleged pirates Mohamed Hussein warned any attack on his colleagues would put the British couples' lives in danger.
Another man named Hassan earlier this week claimed responsibility for the Chandlers' disappearance.
"The British couple are in our hands now. We captured them as they were touring in the Indian Ocean," he told the Reuters news agency.
As searches continue for the couple's yacht - the Lynn Rival - Mr Hussein told Sky News: "We are telling Britain that any bullet of our friends on the yacht will be big cries for the families of the two old people we held.
"We warn them any attack on us, this is a good advice for them, otherwise they will burn their two people's bones."
The Foreign Office said it was still investigating the reports the Chandlers yacht had been taken.
A Foreign Office spokesperson told inthenews.co.uk: "We are urgently looking into reports that Paul and Rachel Chandler's yacht has been seized and they are now being held captive.
"As yet we cannot confirm these reports, but we are carefully assessing the situation and we remain extremely concerned for their safety.
"We have passed details of their yacht to all international partners in the region, including the EU and Nato operations commanded by the UK. They have begun searching for the yacht with the assets they have available in the area. The Seychelles coastguard is also continuing its search and rescue mission.
"FCO officials remain in close touch with the family in the UK."