SABAH, Malaysia (11 Sep 2000) -- Just hours before Muslim rebels attacked Pandanan Island and seized three hostages, divers Katie Dunn and Eric MacMahon left the island's dive resort for the mainland. The kidnapping was almost identical to the April 23 attack on nearby Sipadan Island where 21 dive tourists, dive instructors and hotel staff were taken hostage. All but one diving instructor from that hostage group have since been freed. In the latest attack on a Malaysian dive resort, Abu Sayyaf Muslim terrorists linked to Al Qaeda used a high-speed boat purchased with part of the $20m ransom they received for the release of the Sipadan hostages. | | Although Malaysian and Philippine patrol boats gave chase, the powerful, high-speed 50-passenger boat easily outran the slower military vessels. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
