Brussels: European Union warships have
captured seven suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia
after two fast boats attacked a French fishing vessel, the
EU`s naval force said on Wednesday.
Soldiers aboard the fishing vessel fired on the pirates
after they attacked it some 350 nautical miles east of
Mogadishu yesterday, said a statement.
A German warship was dispatched to the scene, while a
helicopter from a nearby Spanish naval vessel -- the ESPS
Canarias -- was launched and located the two skiffs trying to
flee the area.
"The helicopter fired warning shots to stop both skiffs,
after which the pirates stopped and were seen throwing items,
presumably pirate paraphernalia, overboard," the statement
said.
The seven were arrested by personnel from the German
warship -- FGS Karlsruhe -- when it arrived in the area, after
the fishing boat had been called back to the scene to try to
identify the attackers.
The incident came on the same day that Somali pirates
said they had hijacked a small sailing yacht with two
foreigners on board, most likely a British couple reported
missing since leaving the Seychelles last week.
Ecoterra International, an environmental group closely
monitoring maritime activity off Somalia, said the yacht was
spotted yesterday around 30 kilometres south of Hobyo, pirate
town north of Harardhere, central Somalia.
Bureau Report
