Hamburg - The hostage crisis on the freighter Hansa Stavanger "is for the 24 crew members more and more physical and mental hell. Since 4 April is the ship of the company, "Leonhardt & Blumberg," already under the control of Somali pirates. And their methods of torture are becoming more violent, as the second officer from Lower Saxony, Frederick E. depicted in telephone calls with his father, Christian.
In the few conversations that are allowed by the pirates, told the 27-year-old from cruel sham executions. "We had to kneel, they joined our eyes. Then they shot just over our heads," Christian's father quoted his son in the ARD magazine "Panorama".
As an elite fighters wanted by the special unit GSG 9 stormed in May, the Hansa Stavanger, the situation threatened to escalate. "The pirates have long suspected something. They were very nervous, there were 40 heavily armed men on board," said Christian E. later on the phone.
The father of the officer now sounds the alarm: "My son is scared to death. He and the others just want to go home."
The federal government has meanwhile pulled out of the negotiations with the pirates back and leave this task alone, Frank Leonhardt. The problem of ensuring: The owner preferred to haggle the ransom, as a quick rescue of his crew. Apparently the pirates instead of 15 million U.S. dollars to "only" 2.75 million still calling. Leonhardt, however, will insist on 2.5 million U.S. dollars.
Despite the dramatic conditions of on-board closed-Secretary of Defense Thomas Kossendey a violent liberation: "It would end in bloodshed."
Not good news for the crew members, after nearly four months in captivity, have only one wish: "Get us out of here at last!"
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