The Hague: The Dutch government says a team of
marines stationed on a merchant ship has fought off a pirate
attack in the Arabian Sea.
The Defence Ministry says the marines opened fire early
today on pirates armed with weapons, including a rocket
propelled grenade, as the crew of the ship Flintstone took
shelter in a safe room. The vessel is used to lay rocks around
undersea pipelines.
Marines fired tracer bullets at the six pirates as they
sped toward the Flintstone, but they responded by aiming the
rocket-propelled grenade at the ship.
To prevent the grenade being fired, the marines opened
fire on the pirates. The Defence Ministry said it "could not
rule out casualties among the pirates."
The Flintstone was heading from Malta to Singapore. (AP)
PTI
