Terrifying moment insurgents storm yachts and kidnap four tourists including two Canadians from luxury holiday resort on island in southern Philippines
- Four people were abducted from the Oceanview resort on Samal island
- Targeted attack came late on Monday when 30 tourists were at the resort
- Two Canadian tourists and a Norwegian resort manager were abducted
- They have been named as John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50
- Gunmen stormed the marina popular with tourists sailing the Philippines
- CCTV footage shows the moment they were marched away as prisoners
Footage has emerged of the terrifying moment a group of terrorists abduct four tourists at gunpoint from a luxury holiday resort in the Philippines.
Grainy CCTV film shows the kidnappers - armed with pistols and machine guns - marching the tourist hostages across a bridge after having stormed a marina in search of foreign prisoners.
Just before midnight last night the 11 men, wearing civilian clothes, backpacks, and brandishing guns and bandoliers, arrived at the Holiday Oceanview Resort in Samal Island.
With the island only accessible by boat, the kidnappers' docked under cover of darkness and began breaking into tourists' yachts in a bid to find valuable Western captives they can hold for ransom.
It comes as warships and helicopter gunships have been deployed to lead the manhunt to find the four hostages - which includes two Canadians and one Norwegian.
The group of extremists lead the captive hostages across a bridge after storming the marina
A man can be seen shooing the prisoners across the bridge, while several more heavily armed men follow in the rear
The gunmen captured four tourists in the attack, who are likely to be held captive for ransom
Canadians John Ridsdel (left) and Robert Hall (right) were both kidnapped by the extremists last night
Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkinstad (pictured) was also taken, along with his Filipino girlfriend
Authorities said the kidnappers' first attempted to first storm the yacht of tourists Steven and Kazuka Tripp.
However, when the couple fought back and leaped off the boat, the attackers turned their attentions to other foreigners staying on yachts on the island.
The militants went straight for foreigners' boats where many of the 30 guests dived into the water in a desperate bid to avoid being taken.
Canadians John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, were taken at gunpoint, alongside 56-year-old Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkinstad and his Filipino girlfriend.
Mr Ridsdel is the president of mining company TVI Minerals Processing, an organisation based in the Philippines.
After leaving the island - located just off the coast of the mainland island of Mindanao - the captors then fled out to sea with their hostages on board two motorised boats.
Alberto Caber, a Philippines army captain, said: 'Four people were taken but we do not know what group was behind the attack. It appeared the foreigners were the targets, they were not taken at random.'
A special taskforce named 'Oceanview' has now been established, comprising members of the country's special anti-kidnapping teams.
Caber also said a naval blockade, backed by two helicopter gunships, was set up around the island to stop the kidnappers from reaching Basilan Island farther to the southwest where Abu Sayyaf militants have strongholds.
Abu Sayyaf, which has about 400 gunmen, was recently declared a terrorist group by a Philippine court and is on Washington's list of terror organizations.
Three navy ships were sent to search and intercept the gunmen's boat, while ground units were also alerted to locate possible landing sites in southeastern Mindanao.
Military sources said the gunmen spoke English and Tagalog, the language spoken widely in the Philippines.
Although no group has come forward to claim responsibility, at around 4am - five hours after the attack - a resort staff member claimed to have discovered a note left at the front entrance, which stated: 'Justice for our commander: NPA.'
The NPA stands for the New People's Army - an insurgency group affiliated to the country's communist political party.
A note was found at the resort a few hours after the kidnapping, which stated: 'Justice for our commander. By NPA.' However, authorities do not yet know if it is valid and warn the group Abu Sayyaf may be responsible
Pictured is the resort's marina, where tourists staying on yachts leaped into the water in a bid to evade the kidnappers
Classed as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. government, it is thought to fund its activities by extorting locals.
According to the Inquirer, the region's senior superintendent, Samuel Gadingan said: 'Yes, there was this note that said it was in retaliation for the death of the suspects’ commander. But we’re still validating it.
However, the region's mayor said the group did not traditionally use speedboats.
He said: 'In their [note] they claimed they’re NPA but they have no means of pulling off such kidnapping. They’re not known to use speedboats.'
Military and police officials were surprised by the latest attack, which came as a reminder of volatile security in the south despite recent peace initiatives.
The Davao region has been relatively peaceful for more than a decade.
In 2014, a peace agreement with the largest Muslim rebel group in the south ended 45 years of conflict that had killed about 120,000 people and displaced two million.
In 2001, al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamist militants tried but failed to kidnap foreign tourists on Samal island's Pearl Farm resort. Three security men died fighting the attackers.
The four people, including two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian and a Filipino woman were taken at gunpoint during a raid on Monday at the Oceanview resort (pictured) on Samal Island
The beautiful resort claims to be a gated community while also boasting of '24 hour security'
Samal Island is near Davao City, in the southern Philippines. Accessible only by boat, the kidnappers fled with their captives towards the mainland
Samal island, a short boat ride from the southern commercial centre of Davao on Mindanao island, is famed for powdery white sand beaches and dive spots, with resorts there charging up to $500 a night.
The area, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) southeast of Manila, is a popular stop for foreign tourists who sail around the nation's many tropical islands.
The Holiday Oceanview Resort website claims to 'redefine the way you unwind', with townhouses, a hotel, spa, and marina all on offer for those looking to purchase a lot or stay in its marina.
Claiming to be popular with sailors from across the world, the self-described 'gated community' also boasts of '24 hour security' and its swimming pool, parks and children's playgrounds.
The Norwegian embassy in Manila released a short statement saying it was working to verify information about the kidnapping.
Olav David Sekkingstad, Kjartan Sekkinstad's father, told Bergens Tidende newspaper: 'We are obviously very concerned now.'
- Love Ranch owner describes the moment Lamar Odom was found
- Ambulance rushes Lamar Odom to hospital in race to save him
- Zeus the African wildcat says 'mamma' to owner
- Inside the VIP suite where Lamar Odom was found unconscious
- Kris & Kim leave Vegas hospital after visiting Lamar Odom
- GRAPHIC: Moment rat is filmed attacking and killing a pigeon
- Dramatic 911 call after Lamar Odom found unconscious
- Fareed Samad says Lamar Odom was having a 'momentary lapse'
- Girlfriend not impressed with blowing up kid prank
- 'Go to hell': Love Ranch brothel owner slams Kardashians
- Detectives leave Love Ranch where Lamar Odom was found
- Angry bull rips down man's trousers AND underwear
- 'Every drug imaginable was found in Lamar's body':...
- EXCLUSIVE: Lamar Odom’s ex and children arrive in Vegas to...
- Pictured: The prostitutes named Ryder Cherry and Monica...
- PIERS MORGAN: Lamar Odom’s tragedy is that he just couldn’t...
- Lamar Odom's tragic drug-fueled fall from grace: Dumped by...
- Faith-healing couple who prayed and rubbed oil on their...
- Brothel owner tells of moment Lamar Odom was found...
- Nevada brothel boss tells Kardashians to 'go to hell': Owner...
- 'Please God, let him pull through': Kobe Bryant rushes to...
- EXCLUSIVE: Lamar Odom's ex was due to face him in New York...
- Woman suffocates while dancing on packed dance floor after...
- New Orleans and Miami will be UNDER WATER within the next...