Pirates Hijack Spanish Fishing Boat

MADRID -- Pirates hijacked a Spanish trawler with a 36-member crew Friday in the Indian Ocean, an official said.

The boat, called the Alakrana, sent out distress signals advising of a pirate attack and since then the company hasn't been able to communicate with Alakrana, said Echebastar Fleet, the company that owns the ship.

Two planes from Luxembourg, taking part in a European Union antipiracy flotilla, flew over the ship and saw armed people aboard, said Pilar Unzalu, the Basque region's fisheries and agriculture minister. The Alakrana is based in the Basque port of Bermeo.

The ship was 415 miles from the Seychelles islands, Mr. Unzalu said. Company executives were headed for the Spanish Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Echebastar Fleet said.

It was the second attack in less than a month against the Alakrana. On Sept. 4, while operating in waters off the Seychelles islands, the vessel dodged an attack by taking evasive action.

In April 2008, a Basque tuna boat was hijacked by pirates off Somalia's coast and held for six days until a reported $1.2 million ransom was paid. Another Spanish trawler escaped a hijacking attempt in September 2008.

Spanish navy ships and a reconnaissance plane are also taking part in the EU antipiracy flotilla.
Spanish ship owners have been clamoring for the government to post marines on fishing vessels, as France does, but the government has said it can't do this under Spanish law.

Instead, the Defense Ministry gave companies permission last month to hire private security guards armed with high-powered rifles. The ministry had previously given the go ahead for private security guards armed with pistols. But this was soon seen as insufficient firepower against bandits sometimes armed with weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades.

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