“Pirates want money as soon as possible..."
Relatives of the Ukrainian sailors from the bulk cargo ship Ariana, captured by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, state that their relatives held hostage are being tortured, informs Itar-Tass news agency.
The mother of the second mechanic states her son called her and asked for help. The woman said pirates gave the prisoners mobile phones deliberately so that they would tell their relatives what is going on.
“Pirates want money as soon as possible so they want the news about torture to be spread. Sailors are being flogged and put on the metal deck while the temperature there is about +50 C. I heard bolts clanking.”