15 British marines who were taken captive by Iran several days ago have been released, and are on their way home. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed to release the marines without placing them on trial, as he originally planned to do.
The marines were taken captive as they patrolled the waters off of Iraq. Iranian officials claim they were trespassing on Iranian water, which British authorities have denied.
The 15 are on a British Airways flight, and are expected to land in London in approximately four hours. Their families, who are waiting at the London airport, expressed joy and disbelief. “It was just unbelievable,” said the mother of one of the captives, “it was a bolt out of the blue.”
The marines were taken captive as they patrolled the waters off of Iraq. Iranian officials claim they were trespassing on Iranian water, which British authorities have denied.
The 15 are on a British Airways flight, and are expected to land in London in approximately four hours. Their families, who are waiting at the London airport, expressed joy and disbelief. “It was just unbelievable,” said the mother of one of the captives, “it was a bolt out of the blue.”