Evidence says French sailor killed by his own commandos

by Henry Samuel/Sail-World on 5 May 2009 While the French government has not fully admitted it, all the evidence now available tends to confirm that the French sailor held hostage by pirates was shot dead by his own country's special forces.

Skipper of the yacht Tanit Florent Lemacon was killed during a release operation carried out by French commandos after Lemacon, his wife, two other crew and his three-year-old son had been kidnapped by Somali pirates.

Florent Lemaçon is alleged to have been killed when he inadvertently confused a commando by raising his hand to protect his son. The crew had been told to stay still while the operation took place, but Florent automatically raised a hand to protect his son.

The French soldier who opened fire immediately told his superiors that he had shot the lethal round, it said.

During the storming of the Tanit, Lemacon's yacht, on April 10 in the Gulf of Aden three Somali pirates were captured and two killed.

Citing ballistic experts, as well as eyewitness accounts from Mr Lemaçon's wife and special forces present, Europe 1 radio said the yachtsman had been killed while trying to shield his son and wife.

'This was a reflex gesture that triggered another reflex, to open fire, and he collapsed in his wife's arms,' said the report.

The bullet that killed Lemacon has not been found but it went through his hand before hitting him in the face, at nose level, according to the report.

French special forces launched the rescue after eavesdropping on the pirates suggested they were 'becoming nervous and talked about making an example out of the hostages'.

After successfully overpowering three pirates on deck, the commando force stormed the Tanit's cramped cabin, where two armed pirates were holding the five hostages.

'Thanks to special techniques, the special forces knew exactly where each person was located and with a loudspeaker ordered the French hostages to remain still during the assault. But to protect his son and his wife, Florent Lemaçon put his hand in front of his face,' said the report.

French prosecutors said last month, however, that they were unable to conclude who fired the shot following an investigation.

Hervé Morin, the French defence minister, had indicated after Mr Lemaçon's death that he could not rule out his death being caused by French forces. He had pledged to 'tell the truth' about what happened after the investigation had been completed.

He said that the order to free the hostages was made after all other options had been exhausted. 'We tried negotiating, notably offering a ransom, offering them a boat to get back to the Somali coast,' he said. 'We even offered to exchange the mother and child... for a French officer.' The order to launch the assault was given after consulting the Elysée.

More than 80 vessels have been reportedly seized by pirates this year, with at least 17 ships and more than 300 crew members still held in captivity.