French woman kidnapped in Kenya resort

[tawadi]

Source: BBC

French woman kidnapped in Kenya resort

1 October 2011 Last updated at 11:31 ET

French woman has been kidnapped by an armed gang on Kenya's northern resort island of Manda and taken to Somalia, Kenyan officials say.

The disabled woman, 66, was attacked at her bungalow at Ras Kitau. Kenya's government said it believed the abductors were al-Shabab militants.

A Kenyan statement said some abductors were injured in a shootout with two Kenyan ships trying to stop them.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15135544

[mainer]

1. Another tourist kidnapping in Kenya?

It sounds like Kenya needs to take strong action before their entire tourist industry crashes and burns.

[tawadi]

2. It was unclear whether she was a tourist, or lived there

"Kenyan coastguards are said to have surrounded a pirate boat where the elderly woman is being held hostage."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/01/french-woman-kidnapped-gunmen-kenya?newsfeed=true

[alp227]

3. Somalis Kidnap Frenchwoman

Source: AP

Ten heavily armed Somali militants driving their boat under the cover of darkness kidnapped a Frenchwoman on a resort island in northern Kenya early Saturday, officials said. The woman often uses a wheelchair, according to the resident.

The government blamed the attack on Somali militants from al-Shabab, and Kenyan navy and police chased the suspected boat at sea.

"Security forces swung into immediate action and pursued the abductors as they sped northwards in a high-speed boat towards" Ras Komboni, the town in Somalia the government said the militants originated, according to a government statement.

"In the ensuing shoot-out between the abductors and the Kenya Navy, several of the abductors were injured but managed to enter" Ras Komboni, the statement said.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/10/01/world/africa/AP-AF-Kenya-Pirates-Kidnapping.html

[Honeycombe8]

4. Oh, no. I hope she makes it back okay. She's in big trouble, esp

since she has a medical condition and is possibly elderly, to begin with. I imagine she's scared out of her wits.

[tawadi]

5. Update on the story

http://m.cnn.com/primary/_thgiAF-iwl0dDoR9Rp