HOSTAGES: Thomas Sutherland & the Dutch Train Hijacking

Summary

Crime House True Crime Stories: Episode Summary
Episode Title: HOSTAGES: Thomas Sutherland & the Dutch Train Hijacking
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Podcast Description: Crime House True Crime Stories delves into notorious crime cases each week, unified by a common theme. This episode explores two significant hostage crises—Thomas Sutherland’s abduction in Lebanon and the Dutch train hijacking by Malaccan radicals.

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Introduction

In this episode of Crime House True Crime Stories, host Vanessa Richardson explores the chilling theme of hostages, weaving together two distinct yet similarly harrowing tales from different eras and geographies. The first story delves into the prolonged kidnapping of Thomas Sutherland by Hezbollah in Lebanon during the mid-1980s. The second recounts the 1977 Dutch train hijacking orchestrated by Malaccan extremists. Both cases highlight the extreme measures taken by radical groups to achieve political aims, often at the expense of innocent lives.

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First Case: Thomas Sutherland’s Kidnapping in Lebanon

Background and Arrival in Beirut

Vanessa Richardson sets the stage on June 9, 1985, when 54-year-old Thomas Sutherland, a prominent professor and Dean of Agriculture at the American University in Beirut, arrives in Lebanon. Having previously moved from Scotland to the United States and then to Lebanon, Thomas and his wife Jean sought adventure and academic fulfillment amidst Lebanon’s tumultuous civil war.

"On the evening of June 9, 1985, 54-year-old Thomas Sutherland touched down in Lebanon... It wasn't unusual for civilians to carry guns in Beirut at the time. Even so, Thomas could tell something was off about the men in front of him."
— Vanessa Richardson [03:13]

The Kidnapping

Shortly after arriving, Thomas is kidnapped by Hezbollah militants by mistake. The extremists intended to abduct Calvin Plimpton, the university president, believing Thomas to be him. This error sets off a chain of events that leads to Thomas’s prolonged captivity.

"The militants didn't realize it at the time, but they had the wrong man. Unfortunately for Thomas Sutherland, their mistake would change the course of his life forever."
— Vanessa Richardson [03:13]

Captivity and Struggles

Thomas endures over six years of captivity, marked by solitary confinement, relentless interrogations, and physical abuse. Misinterpreting his lack of cooperation as resistance, Hezbollah subjects him to severe torture, leading to severe depression and multiple suicide attempts.

"He fell into a severe depression and made three attempts on his life."
— Vanessa Richardson [10:11]

Despite the bleak conditions, Thomas finds solace in his cellmate, Terry Anderson, an Associated Press correspondent and former Marine. Their mutual support becomes a lifeline, helping Thomas maintain his sanity.

"Thomas taught him about agriculture and gave him French lessons... These conversations were actually keeping him alive without Them, he would have continued his descent into madness."
— Vanessa Richardson [10:11]

Jean’s Fight for His Freedom

Back home, Jean Sutherland remains steadfast in her efforts to secure her husband’s release. She continues teaching at the university while pressuring the U.S. government and later engaging directly with local intermediaries to negotiate with Hezbollah.

"If the government wasn't going to do something, she would."
— Vanessa Richardson [10:11]

Release and Aftermath

In 1991, after 2,354 days of captivity, Thomas is finally released through United Nations-mediated negotiations. His return to San Francisco is met with overwhelming relief and jubilation. Reintegrating into society proves challenging, but Thomas dedicates his post-captivity years to lecturing on resilience and perseverance. Both he and Jean author books detailing their ordeal and subsequently become patrons of arts and education through a substantial settlement.

"Thomas worked to piece his life back together as one of the longest held captives in Lebanon."
— Vanessa Richardson [10:11]

Thomas passed away in 2016, followed by Jean in 2023. Their legacy as heroes and symbols of unwavering resilience is honored by Colorado State University and their community.

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Second Case: The 1977 Dutch Train Hijacking

Historical Context: The Molakans’ Struggle

Vanessa Richardson provides a detailed backdrop on the Malaccan (Molakan) community in the Netherlands, descendants of individuals from the South Maluku Islands in Indonesia. After aiding the Dutch colonial forces during Indonesia’s fight for independence, the Molakans were promised sovereignty but were instead exiled without citizenship, leading to socio-economic hardships and growing resentment.

"They were forced into segregated communities with little to no opportunities and limited resources... it was a recipe for disaster."
— Vanessa Richardson [10:11]

Previous Hostage Attempts

In the mid-1970s, frustrated by their plight, Molakan radicals attempted to assert their demands through violent means, including a failed plot to kidnap the Dutch Queen and a prior train hijacking in 1975. These actions heightened tensions and set the stage for the 1977 incident.

The 1977 Train Hijacking

On May 23, 1977, led by 24-year-old Max Papilea, nine Malaccan extremists hijack a passenger train near Dipunt, a village in the Netherlands. After stopping the train and taking 54 hostages, the hijackers enforce strict conditions, segregating passengers and covering windows to obscure the interior.

"In May 1977, nine Malaccan radicals boarded a Dutch train and took 54 people hostage... The hijackers instructed all of the hostages to cover the windows with newspapers so that no one could see inside."
— Vanessa Richardson [20:16]

Government Response and Negotiations

The Dutch government, led by crisis psychiatrist Dick Mulder, opts for a strategic and measured response rather than immediate military intervention. Initial efforts focus on providing humanitarian aid and opening communication channels through intermediaries like Josephine Sumokel and Hassan Tan, aiming to de-escalate the situation through dialogue.

"Josephine and Hassan spoke to Max twice for several hours at a time. Thankfully, the talks were somewhat successful."
— Vanessa Richardson [20:16]

Escalation and Rescue Operation

As hostages grow increasingly desperate, a pivotal moment occurs when hostages signal for help using Morse code. This prompts the Dutch anti-terror unit to mount a decisive rescue operation. On June 11, 1977, a combined military assault involving fighter jets, flamethrowers, and machine guns neutralizes six of the nine hijackers, including Max Papilea.

"The anti-terror unit burst onto the train armed with flamethrowers and machine guns. They aimed their weapons at the hijackers and unleashed a barrage of fire and bullets."
— Vanessa Richardson [20:16]

Tragically, two hostages lose their lives during the confrontation, but 49 are freed unharmed. The aftermath leaves the Malaccan community further fragmented and disillusioned, with the Dutch court eventually ruling no wrongful actions in the rescue, despite calls for investigation.

"A Dutch court ruled that their deaths were a side effect of the raid and not the primary goal."
— Vanessa Richardson [20:16]

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Conclusion

Through the lens of these two hostage crises, Vanessa Richardson underscores the devastating impact of political extremism and the extreme lengths to which radical groups will go to further their agendas. Both the Sutherland kidnapping and the Dutch train hijacking illustrate the human cost of such conflicts, highlighting themes of resilience, negotiation, and the quest for justice.

"It's clear that putting innocent people in danger isn't the answer. Neither the Molakans nor Hezbollah made positive progress for their causes, and in the end, several people, including their own resistance fighters, lost their lives."
— Vanessa Richardson [20:16]

These stories serve as poignant reminders of the importance of peaceful resolution and the profound personal toll that hostage situations exact on individuals and communities alike.

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Key Quotes

• Vanessa Richardson [00:06]:
  "This week's theme hostages... While each set of perpetrators had very different motivations, they were united by a common goal and both were willing to risk the lives of innocent people to achieve their political aims."

• Vanessa Richardson [03:13]:
  "The militants didn't realize it at the time, but they had the wrong man... Thomas Sutherland, their mistake would change the course of his life forever."

• Vanessa Richardson [10:11]:
  "These conversations were actually keeping him alive without Them, he would have continued his descent into madness."

• Vanessa Richardson [20:16]:
  "Life on the train was a mixture of intense stress and brain-numbing boredom... Many became depressed and even suicidal."

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Final Thoughts

This episode poignantly captures the harrowing experiences of hostages caught in the crossfire of political and ideological battles. Through meticulous storytelling and emotional depth, Crime House True Crime Stories sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit amidst extreme adversity.

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Stay updated with more true crime narratives by following Crime House True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts. For additional content and community engagement, follow them on Instagram @crimehouse.

Transcript

[Vanessa Richardson]

This is Crime House. During the week of June 11, 1985, Thomas Sutherland, a high ranking professor at the American University in Beirut, was kidnapped on the streets of Lebanon. Almost eight years earlier, in 1977, dozens of people were rescued in the Netherlands after a 20 day standoff with their captors making this week's theme hostages. Welcome to Crime House the Show. I'm Vanessa Richardson. Every Monday we'll be revisiting notorious crimes from this week in history. From serial killers to mysterious disappearances, every episode will explore stories that share a common theme. Each week we'll cover two stories, one further in the past and one more rooted in the present. Here at Crime House, we know none of this would be possible without you, our community. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Crime House the Show wherever you get your podcasts and for ad free and early access to Crime House the Show plus exciting bonus content, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcast this week's theme is Hostages. First we go to 1985 when 54 year old Thomas Sutherland was captured by an extremist terrorist group in Beirut and held hostage for 2,354 days. Then we'll jump back to the same week in 1977 when the hijacking of a Dutch train came to a violent conclusion. While each set of perpetrators had very different motivations, they were united by a common goal and both were willing to risk the lives of innocent people to achieve their political aims.

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[Vanessa Richardson]

Boring money moves make kinda lame songs but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. BNC bank brilliantly boring since 1865. On the evening of June 9, 1985, 54 year old Thomas Sutherland touched down in Lebanon. He'd taken a quick trip back to the US to see his daughter graduate from college. Now he was back in the Middle east where he was the Dean of Agriculture at American University's Beirut campus. After landing, he walked out of the airport to find a limo waiting for him. It belonged to the president of his university, Calvin Plimpton. Calvin was supposed to be traveling with Thomas that day, but his plans had changed at the last minute. Even so, he was happy for his driver to give Thomas a ride home. Thomas hopped in and the limo sped off through the streets of Beirut. A little While later, around 6:30pm Thomas noticed a group of men gathered on the road ahead carrying guns. Later, Thomas would learn they were members of the Hezbollah Islamic Jihad, a covert terrorist militia group that received weapons, TR and funding from the Iranian government. It wasn't unusual for civilians to carry guns in Beirut at the time. Even so, Thomas could tell something was off about the men in front of him. Seconds later, he learned why. Suddenly, the militia surrounded the limo and shot out the tires. Then they did the same with the windows before pulling Thomas out through the shattered glass. The militants didn't realize it at the time, but they had the wrong man. Unfortunately for Thomas Sutherland, their mistake would change the course of his life forever. Thomas journey to Beirut was an eventful one. Born in Falkirk, Scotland in 1931, he made his way to the United States when he was in his 20s. Thomas was interested in farming and in 1958 he got a PhD in animal breeding from Iowa State University. While there, he met his wife Jean, who was also a student. After that, they both decided to stay in higher education and become professors at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. They went on to have three daughters. By the 1980s, Gene and Thomas had built a beautiful life together. But they were craving adventure. When Thomas was offered a position as the Dean of Agriculture at the American University in Beirut, he jumped at the opportunity. With their kids off at college and starting their own careers, the timing was perfect. Especially because Gene was also offered a teaching role at the university. In 1983, 52 year old Thomas and 49 year old Gene made the move to Beirut, Lebanon. But if they were expecting a warm welcome, they were sorely mistaken. At the time, Lebanon was in the midst of a violent civil war. The US was worried the conflict would spill over into neighboring countries. So in 1982, the year before Thomas and Jean arrived, the US tried to intervene. They stationed Marines around the nation and attempted to keep the fighting at bay. It didn't go well. Terrorist groups like Hezbollah were furious that the US Was inserting itself into their war. In retaliation, they began taking American citizens hostage. It was a difficult environment, but Jean and Thomas did their best to adapt. In their minds, it was more important than ever to educate younger generations. No matter how scared they might be, their students came first. But after two years in Beirut, the civil war had grown to dangerous new heights. By 1985, Hezbollah had taken control of the western part of the city. Electricity came and went, and there was a shortage of food and basic necessities. The US Saw this and decided to ramp up its military presence, which only made Hezbollah angrier. Soon, the number of kidnappings increased. Hezbollah went after everyone from tourists to missionaries. But there was one kind of target they prioritized above the rest. People connected to the American University of Beirut. They believed the US Government would be willing to pay a lot of money to get those academics back. So the militant group took an interest in several administrators, deans, and professors. But the president, Calvin Plimpton, was the ultimate prize. By the summer of 1985, Hezbollah had been tracking Calvin for months. They knew he was supposed to be flying back to Beirut on June 9, but they weren't aware that his plans had changed at the last minute. When they pulled Thomas Sutherland out of Calvin's limo that day, they had no idea who they'd just captured. But he was an American, and to his kidnappers, that was good enough. After grabbing Thomas that evening, Hezbollah terrorists forced him into the trunk of another car. As they whipped around street corners, Thomas had no sense of where they were going at all. Sometime later, the car came to a stop, and they pulled Thomas out of the car. He was in the courtyard of a building that seemed to be within the city limits. Then a militant pulled a hood over Thomas's head and led him inside. And it was the last glimpse of sunlight he'd see for the next six and a half years.

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[Vanessa Richardson]

On June 9, 1985, 54 year old Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped by Hezbollah terrorists in Beirut, Lebanon. He was taken to an undisclosed location in the city and thrown into a concrete cell. Meanwhile, his captors searched his briefcase. Among Thomas's academic papers and personal belongings, they found a flyer for a conference on Islam. Whether they thought this meant Thomas was posing as a professor or something else, they took it as evidence that he was an American spy, and they treated him accordingly. After discovering the flyer, Hezbollah put Thomas into solitary confinement. He spent the next five months in a tiny room with no bed and no toilet. Most days he was subjected to brutal interrogations about the American government's plans for Lebanon. But he wasn't able to answer their questions because he wasn't actually a spy. Except his captors interpreted his silence as resistance and beat him relentlessly. A few months into his captivity, Hezbollah had realized Thomas didn't have any information to offer them. Even then, the torture didn't stop. Although there were always guards at the door of his cell, Thomas was chained either to the floor, the wall, or the radiator. As the days bled into one another, Thomas began to unravel. He'd hoped that US Forces would come free him, but the more time that passed, the less certain he became and the worse his mental health got. One minute his captors promised he was going to be released. The next they were threatening to kill him. Eventually, it became too much for Thomas to bear. He fell into a severe depression and made three attempts on his life. Thomas got his first glimmer of Hope in early 1986. After five months in solitary, Hezbollah allowed him to join their other hostages. They included David Johnson, the head of the American University Hospital, a reverend named Benjamin Weir, and a priest called Father Lawrence Martin Jenco. They were all US Citizens and. But Thomas's real saving grace was his cellmate, Terry Anderson, a correspondent for the Associated Press. Terry wasn't just a journalist, though. He was also a former Marine. He'd been trained to withstand brutal living conditions and knew how to deal with both physical and mental torture. Terry gave Thomas advice on how to cope. In return, Thomas taught him about agriculture and gave him French lessons in which he was fluent. At first, it just seemed like a way to pass the time. But eventually, Thomas realized these conversations were actually keeping him alive without Them, he would have continued his descent into madness. While Thomas was working to stay sane, he had no idea that his wife Jean was on the outside fighting tooth and nail to bring him home. After Thomas was taken hostage, Jean decided to stay in Beirut. Like Thomas, she knew how important it was to keep busy. So she continued teaching at the American University. At the same time, she put pressure on the US government to get Thomas back. But it was an uphill battle. It wasn't just Thomas's life that was at stake, though. It was all of the hostages the US knew knew they were dealing with an incredibly sensitive situation. One wrong move and their citizens would end up dead. Eventually, Jean had enough. If the government wasn't going to do something, she would. It's not clear when, but probably a few years into Thomas's captivity, Gene got in touch with a local Lebanese journalist. They acted as an intermediate intermediary between Jean and Hezbollah as she tried to convince them to negotiate with the US government. Jean kept her conversations with the animalistic terror group under wraps. Her kids didn't even know she was in talks with the terrorists who'd taken their father. Of course, Thomas had no idea either. While Jean did everything she could to save him, he was slowly withering away. Even with Terry Anderson in his corner, Thomas was struggling to stay motivated. As the years passed, he prayed to God for a miracle. But after his prayers continued to go unanswered, Thomas lost faith. He needed a sign from the universe, something, anything to keep him going. After six harrowing years, he finally got it. At that point, Thomas had spent so much time in captivity that Hezbollah knew he was no longer a threat. And by 1991, they'd given him access to magazines as well as a radio. One day that year, Thomas was listening to the BBC when a song came on. The host said it was dedicated to Thomas from his wife, Jean. As Thomas listened to, tears welled in his eyes. At that moment, he decided he would survive. Jean hadn't forgotten about him and he owed it to her to keep fighting. Little did he know he was on the brink of freedom. In 1991, the United nations brokered a deal with Hezbollah to free Thomas and another hostage, Terry Waite, who was an envoy of the Anglican Church. On November 18, Thomas, now 60 years old, finally saw the sunlight again after 2,354 days. Eight days later, on November 26, 1991, Thomas landed in San Francisco. With Gene by his side, he stepped off the plane and into the arms of his children and grandchildren. It was his first time meeting his four year old granddaughter. After reuniting with his family, Thomas turned to the crowd that had gathered to welcome him home and smiled. He said, hello America and thank you. We're going to have a very, very happy Thanksgiving. It would be his first in six years. Back in Fort Collins, Colorado, Thomas worked to piece his life back together as one of the longest held captives in Lebanon. People were anxious to learn more about his experience. He spent the rest of his life giving lectures about his time as a hostage and speaking about the importance of staying resilient. He and Jean went on to write books about Thomas's ordeal. His was about his time as a prisoner. Hers was about being the spouse of a captive. They also sued Iran for backing Hezbollah and they won. They used their $35 million settlement to become prolific patrons of the arts and education. Thomas passed away in 2016 at 85 years old. Jean followed seven years later in 2023 when she was 88. Both were honored by Colorado State University and seen as heroes in their own right. Coming up, another hostage crisis that shocked the world.

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The son of a billionaire and he wanted to help you get rich?

[Vanessa Richardson]

By this time next year, you should be a millionaire.

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His house was stunning, the model on his arm even more so when you.

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See him with this younger, attractive girl, it sort of helps sell the yes, I do have a lot of money.

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So you give him cash to start a business and wake up in a nightmare.

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You just scammed your own family. He's a ghost. He's a ghost.

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Because this guy doesn't stay anywhere too long.

[Vanessa Richardson]

Kenya Nai Wen Longchu, AI Bant Young.

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And has a ton of aliases.

[Vanessa Richardson]

Yanal Kendrick, Kazumi Yanai.

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So maybe you decide to do something about it.

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He gets thrown to the ground. He keeps yelling out, what did I do? What did I do?

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[Vanessa Richardson]

Eight years before Thomas Sutherland was taken captive by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, another radical group tried to achieve their aims through violence. But these hijackers weren't looking for hostages on the streets. They found them on public transit. In the early morning hours of 6-11-19. In 1977, a passenger train was stopped on the outskirts of Dipunt, a small village in the northern part of the Netherlands. Inside were nine armed hijackers and 52 innocent people. It had been 19 days since they were first taken hostage, and they were losing hope that they'd ever be rescued. They didn't know their harrowing ordeal was finally about to come to an end. At around 5am, the hostages heard a hum in the air. As it grew louder, the passengers realized it was fighter jets and they were flying dangerously close to the train. Moments later, a series of smoke bombs went off outside, filling the air with a dense fog. That's when the Dutch military's anti terror unit approached the train. They wore black face paint and were heavily armed. They blew off the doors with explosives and then stormed inside, unleashing a barrage of bullets. The nine Molakan hijackers didn't stand a chance. The Molakans are a group of people from the South Maluku Islands, an Indonesian territory that had a long and complicated history with the Netherlands. In the 1700s, the Dutch took over the region, branding the area the Dutch East Indies. Over the next two centuries, Indonesia fell under Dutch control, and by 1945, they were eager to be free of European colonialism. For the next four years, Indonesia fought for independence. But there was one group who did want to ally with the Dutch, the Molakans. Instead of joining their countrymen, they fought in the Royal Dutch Indonesian Army. The Netherlands had promised the Moluccans and that if they helped them win the war, the South Moluccan Islands would stay free and sovereign. But when the fighting came to an end in 1949, Indonesia came out on top. They saw the Molakans who'd battled alongside the Dutch as traitors, and the Indonesian government exiled about 12,000 of them to the Netherlands. But although the Dutch had once promised them independence and they didn't want the Malaccans living in their country either, the Netherlands refused to grant the exiled Malaccans citizenship, which meant they weren't able to work, go to school or assimilate into Dutch society. They were forced into segregated communities with little to no opportunities and limited resources. It was a recipe for disaster. With no rights and no real home, the Malaccan people living in the Netherlands struggled to build lives for themselves. Over the next 25 years, tensions grew as the Molakan community pushed for Dutch citizenship. Their pleas fell on deaf ears and by 1970, the Molakans were tired and very angry. Eventually they decided their only option was to find force the Dutch government to listen to them. In 1975, a radical group of Dutch Molakans tried to kidnap the Queen of the Netherlands. Although the plan failed, the extremists weren't giving up just yet. Months later, Molakan radicals took over the Indonesian consulate in Amsterdam. At the same time, another group held a train hostage near a small Dutch village. Both sets of extremists were quickly disarmed and arrested. It was a blow to the movement. But instead of folding, the remaining Malaccan fighters decided to regroup. Their next attack would have to be more thoughtful and much more coordinated. Two years later, in 1977, a group of nine extremists had assembled, led by a 2424 year old Dutch mockin named Max Papilea. They planned to take another train hostage, but this time they were determined to succeed. On the morning of May 23, Max and a few other extremists boarded an express train in the city of Assen. They looked like any other passengers, except they were secretly armed. Once the train had traveled about 10 miles to the town of Dupont and Max pulled the emergency brake, bringing the train to a stop. Then the rest of the hijackers hopped on, wearing masks and carrying submachine guns and rifles. The 100 or so passengers on board flew into a panic. In the chaos, about 50 people were allowed to leave the train, leaving 54 remaining hostages. The two conductors either escaped or were let off. Max and the other Mockins corralled the remaining hostages. The women were moved to the first class cabin in the center car, while the men were forced into the second class compartment. The hijackers instructed all of the hostages to cover the windows with newspapers so that no one could See inside. But it wouldn't be long until the rest of the country learned what was happening. News of the hijacked train quickly made waves around the Netherlands. The public demanded the government act, and quickly. Hours later, the Royal Dutch Marines Anti Terror Unit had set up a perimeter around the train. In the Hague, the Dutch capital, a crisis center was assembled. There, a team of army and air force experts considered how to proceed. They decided a raid or surprise attack was too risky. They would have to move slowly and strategically. Their first order of business was to get food and medicine to the hostages. Luckily, the hijackers agreed to let the Marines pass along the resources. They also sent the Mockins a phone. The crisis team included a government psychiatrist named Dick Mulder. They hoped he would be able to get through to the group's leader. But Max wasn't interested in being talked down. The only way he would release the hostages was if the Dutch government agreed to his demands. And he had several. The Moluccans wanted the South Moluccan Islands to finally be free both from Dutch and Indonesian rule. And they wanted the Netherlands to help make it happen. They also wanted their comrades who'd been arrested in 1975 to be released, released from prison. On top of that, Max said he and his crew would need an airplane, which they would use to escape the country and avoid jail time. Max warned the government they had one day to agree to the demands. If the deadline passed, he'd start shooting. In May 1977, nine Malaccan radicalists boarded a Dutch train in the Netherlands and took 54 people hostage. Their leader, 24 year old Max Papillaya, told the Dutch government that they needed their demands met by 2pm on May 25, or they would start killing hostages. When the deadline came and went, Max and several other hijackers marched three blindfolded hostages out of the train. Then they slipped nooses around their necks. Even then, the Dutch government refused to give in. Luckily, Max had been bluffing. The three hostages were brought back on board unharmed. And although the authorities were standing firm, they were making progress to free all of the passengers. Over the last few days, they'd been working under the radar to gather intelligence. An electronics expert for the Marines had gotten to the train tracks undetected. He applied highly sensitive listening devices to the train's underbelly, allowing the Marines stationed outside to hear the conversations on board. They also planted state of the art surveillance cameras in the surrounding tree line, giving the army a view of the train. After another several days of monitoring, the hijackers the crisis team decided to ramp up the pressure. Maybe the Dutch government wasn't willing to negotiate, but they knew some people who were. 64 year old Josephine Sumokel was the widow of a Dutch Molakan resident resistance fighter. And 56 year old Hassan Tan was a welfare minister for the Dutch Malaccan community. If anyone could get Max to listen, it was them. Josephine and Hassan spoke to Max twice for several hours at a time. Thankfully, the talks were somewhat successful. On June 5, Max agreed to release two two pregnant hostages. Shortly after that, he also allowed a 46 year old man with chest pains to get off the train. The crisis team was moving in the right direction, but the remaining 51 hostages were still in jeopardy. At this point, the hostages had been held captive for 16 days and everyone on board was getting restless. According to later accounts, life on the train was a mixture of intense stress and brain numbing boredom. Many became depressed and even suicidal. For one man, these conditions became too much to bear. On June 8, Bernd Vanderstruck used a mirror to flash a message to the marines gathered outside the train. Using Morse code, he spelled out Come and help us get out. The soldiers saw his plea for help and assumed the hostages were in immediate danger. They didn't know what was going on inside. But maybe this time Max wasn't bluffing. But they couldn't just charge in with guns blazing. For the next three days, the Marines gathered intel and formulated a plan. By June 11, they got approval from the crisis center. It was go time. That morning, six fighter jets flew low over the train. The force of the engines was so powerful, the hostages dropped to the floor and braced themselves. They didn't know if they were about to be saved or killed. But the crisis team knew what they were doing. They wanted hostages down on the ground, out of shooting range. Moments that later, the anti terror unit burst onto the train armed with flamethrowers and machine guns. They aimed their weapons at the hijackers and unleashed a barrage of fire and bullets. Out of the nine hijackers, six were killed, including Max. Sadly, they weren't the only ones who lost their lives that day. Two hostages, 40 year old Rean Van Barsel and 19 year old Ansha Monsju were fatally wounded during the shootout. But the remaining 49 passengers were finally freed. After 20 days, the bullet riddled train was paraded across stations around the country. It was a symbol of the Dutch military's success. For the Molakan community, their was no celebration. The three surviving hijackers were arrested and deemed prisoners of war. Beyond that, they'd lost six members of their small community, and they weren't any closer to statehood or citizenship. In 2014, Dutch Mockins pushed for an investigation into the deaths of those hijackers. They argued that they were unarmed at the the time, which would mean they were unjustly murdered. In the end, a Dutch court ruled that their deaths were a side effect of the raid and not the primary goal. No charges were filed against the army or the Marines who killed them. Looking back on this week in Crime history, we can see how easy it is for political tensions to spiral out of control. But it's also clear that putting innocent people in danger isn't the answer. Neither the Molakans nor Hezbollah made positive progress for their causes, and in the end, several people, including their own resistance fighters, lost their lives in V Foreign thanks so much for listening. I'm Vanessa Richardson and this is Crime House the Show. The show is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Crime House the Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback truly matters. And for ad free and early access to Crime House the Show plus exciting bonus content, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. We'll be back next Monday. Crime House the Show is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This Episode this episode was brought to life by the Crime House the Show team, Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertzovsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Seth Blogier, Hania Saeed and Michael Langsner. Thank you for listening.