Abu Sayyaf kills German woman, abducts man in attack at sea in the Philippines
- 8 years ago
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Two German nationals were reportedly attacked by Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda linked terrorist group in southern Philippines, leaving one woman dead and her male companion apparently taken captive.
The victims have been identified as 70-year-old Jurgen Kantner and 59-year-old Sabine Merz, according to The Philippine Star. The couple was sailing in their yacht off Malaysia’s Sabah state when they were reportedly intercepted by Abu Sayyaf militants.
On Sunday morning, civilians found Merz’s body in the yacht, which was drifting off Laparan Island in the Philippines.
“Unfortunately, the other one died. She tried to shoot us, so we shot her. She died,” said Muammar Askali, the spokesperson of Abu Sayyaf, in a phone conversation with the Inquirer. Kanter is believed to have been taken hostage by the terrorist group.
Kantner and his wife were reportedly kidnapped by Somali pirates on the same yacht in 2008 and were freed, the New York Times reported.
The victims have been identified as 70-year-old Jurgen Kantner and 59-year-old Sabine Merz, according to The Philippine Star. The couple was sailing in their yacht off Malaysia’s Sabah state when they were reportedly intercepted by Abu Sayyaf militants.
On Sunday morning, civilians found Merz’s body in the yacht, which was drifting off Laparan Island in the Philippines.
“Unfortunately, the other one died. She tried to shoot us, so we shot her. She died,” said Muammar Askali, the spokesperson of Abu Sayyaf, in a phone conversation with the Inquirer. Kanter is believed to have been taken hostage by the terrorist group.
Kantner and his wife were reportedly kidnapped by Somali pirates on the same yacht in 2008 and were freed, the New York Times reported.