Four Americans Held On Yacht By Somali Pirates Have Been Killed

CBS News correspondent David Martin reports the four Americans who have been held hostage on a yacht by Somali pirates have been killed.

The American yacht was hijacked by pirates last week and was believed to be less than two days from the Somali coast, a U.S. military official told CNN Tuesday. The vessel is being shadowed by the military in those waters, the official said. U.S. officials said the S/V Quest, with four Americans on board, was overtaken by pirates on Friday.

According to Martin, CBS News’ national security correspondent, gunshots aboard the yacht were heard by pursuing military ships, and the crews took action:

All 4 Americans were dead, killed apparently by their captors.

There were more than a dozen pirates on board, some dead and others captured, Martin reports.

NBC News has also confirmed the report, citing sources.

According to CNN:

Owners Jean and Scott Adam and two other people on board, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, had been traveling with yachts participating in the Blue Water Rally since their departure from Phuket, Thailand, rally organizers said Sunday in a statement on the event’s website. The group, which organizes long-distance group cruises, said the S/V Quest broke off on February 15 after leaving Mumbai, India, to take a different route.

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