U.S. Captain Phillips rescued by Navy Seals, 3 pirates dead

[BirminghamExaminer]

Excerpt:

Navy Seals rescued Captain Richard Phillips and killed three Somalian pirates who were holding him hostage.

In a dramatic end to the ordeal that started last Wednesday when Somalia pirates tried to take the Maersk Alabama, a U.S. merchant vessel, Captain Phillips was rescued this afternoon from the lifeboat where he had been held captive by four pirates.

The Navy had been authorized by President Obama to use force if Captain Phillips was in imminent danger. When Navy Seal snipers saw that one of the pirates was holding an AK-47 on the Captain and that the pirates' head and shoulders were exposed, they took the opportunity to end the situation. They shot and killed the three pirates and Captain Phillips was taken on board the U.S.S. Boxer and given medical attention.

See the full story and video here.