Danes Held Hostage in Somalia Back in Denmark

A Danish yachting family released after being held captive for more than six months by Somali pirates have returned to Denmark.

Jacob Bendner of the insurance company that organized the return trip says the family of five and the two crew members are “physically doing better than we feared and none needs hospitalization.”

Bendner said Thursday all seven returned to a secret location in Denmark “in the past 24 hours” and “they want peace.”

Jan Quist Johansen, his wife Birgit Marie and their three teenage children were captured along with two Danish crew members on Feb. 24 as their 43-foot (13-meter) yacht was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

Danish officials have refused to comment on whether a ransom was paid for their freedom.