Ross in pirates' lair hell

SERIES: TV star Ross

21/06/2009

TELLY hardman Ross Kemp has told of his encounter with a pirate captain who claimed to have helped hijack 200 ships.

Ross, 44, met the chief at a secret island location while filming in Somalia.

And he said: "Meeting people who kidnap people just isn't safe. I'm just glad this pirate did not come tooled up."

The ex-EastEnders actor, whose three-part TV series on piracy concludes on Sky tomorrow night, was told by the captain how sea raiders were trained at "schools" by ex-marines.

Missiles

Speaking through an interpreter, the chief revealed: "There are about 30 schools for sea piracy.

"Our trainers used to be in the Somali military and teach every kind of weapon - rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft missiles. A ship has nothing to defend itself with."

Ross said the captain did not see himself as a criminal but as a "hero" defending his coastline.

The actor added: "He saw kidnapping as a business. Around 50 per cent of people in his country are starving and he was putting food on plates."

Ross Kemp In Search of Pirates. Tomorrow at 9pm on Sky1 and Sky1 HD. www.sky.com/rosskemp

Your comments

This article has 7 comments

I take my hat off to Ross Kemp. Can't wait to see "Gangs 3" and "In Search of Pirates" out here in Australia. He's doing a great job of telling what's really going o Good luck in the future. Whatever you decide to do next be safe.

By Trish. Posted July 9 2009 at 9:17 AM.

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Well done Ross, more of the same please.

By mr.T. Webb. Posted June 21 2009 at 10:18 PM.

Why hasn't Ross be awarded a CBE or Knighthood for his work, the only man with the bottle to work on the frontline with the troops, and bring what is really happening to the people of Britain.

By H. Posted June 21 2009 at 5:36 PM.

What do you get if you cross an East End hard man with Bruno? Ross Camp.

By Cockney Dave. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:32 PM.

It takes guts to do this type of journalism and you have done a very good job, There are not many actors who gone on to do other things and do really well.
I wish you all the best in your future Ross and look forward to seeing more episodes.

Best Wishes
Chriso

By Chriso. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:43 PM.

Ba Dum Bish!
Stevie wonder could have seen that coming.

By Benicrayon. Posted June 21 2009 at 10:55 AM.

we have our own pirates here...their called the goverment!

By Elaine. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:15 AM.

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