SABAH, Malaysia (10 Sep 2000) -- Four armed gunmen attacked a dive resort on Pandanan Island near Sipadan, robbed the resort, took three hostages and fled in a high-speed boat towards the southern Philippines. Despite claims by the Malaysia tourist bureau and Sipadan Island dive operators that there are no security problems in the region, it is the second time in just five months that bandits have attacked dive resorts and taken hostages in Sabah, a popular dive resort area in Malaysia. Over the last few years, pirate attacks, robberies, kidnappings, murder and extortion have been escalating in the Sabah region. | | It is still unclear if the bandits are members of the same Abu Sayyaf group that took 21 dive tourists and hotel staff from Sipadan Island. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
