Russia Arrests 8 in Ship Hijacking

(NEWSER) - The Russian ship that mysteriously disappeared nearly three weeks ago has been found off the West African coast, with all 15 crew members aboard, Russia’s defense minister announced today. The crew is now aboard the Russian frigate that found them. The defense minister said the crew was not under armed control when found, but declined to give any other details. More»

(NEWSER) - The Russian-crewed Arctic Sea has been spotted off the coast of West Africa today, say French officials who claim to have seen a ship resembling it near the Cape Verde islands. The Arctic Sea, last seen on July 30, is carrying $1.8 million in lumber and was due to deliver it to a port in Algeria, the Guardian reports. Watchers have suggested the hijacking could have been inspired by a Russian commercial dispute. More»

Mikhail Voitenko says he knows more than he can tell about Arctic Sea 's cargo

(NEWSER) - The Russian journalist who was first to report on the disappearance of the Arctic Sea cargo ship has fled the country after receiving threats, the Guardian reports. Mikhail Voitenko, who speculated that the ship may have been carrying a secret cargo of weapons or "something much more expensive and dangerous," says he received a call warning him that people were out for revenge and to leave the country. More»

(NEWSER) - The hijackers of the Russian-crewed freighter Arctic Sea planned to destroy it if their ransom demand was not met, Reuters reports. “The crew members have already confirmed that the captors demanded a ransom and threatened to blow up the vessel,” says a Russian defense official. There was no comment on speculation that the ship—found Monday by Russia’s navy—was carrying something more sinister than lumber. More»

(NEWSER) - The missing Maltese-flagged ship that was reported off the coast of Africa appears to have been hijacked for a second time, CNN reports. “There has been a demand for ransom,” a Finnish police official said of the Russian-crewed Arctic Sea. “We are now dealing with two separate incidents—the alleged hijacking off the Swedish coast and now the alleged hijacking with a demand for ransom.” More»