France seeks Seychelles' help in trying suspected pirates
But the islands' officials say they don't have the resources to deal with potentially large numbers of suspected Somali pirates. More...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Seychelles captures 11 suspected pirates
10:53 PDT PARIS, France (AP) -- French soldiers successfully defended two fishing boats from capture by pirates in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, and 11 men suspected of involvement in the failed attack were pursued at sea and captured, officials said.
The chain of events illustrated the teamwork in the international community to crack down on piracy in the Indian Ocean, where pirates cruise the waters searching for boats to hijack for ransoms.
After French soldiers chased away the pirates, the coast guard of the Seychelles archipelago, south of where the attack took place, chased the assailants. The coast guard captured two boats — a small craft with eight men aboard and a larger ship carrying three that was the pirates' suspected mothership, said Jacqueline Sherriff, chief press officer for the maritime unit of NATO in Northwood, outside London.
It was not clear how many pirates had been involved in the attack, and whether any got away. The nationality of the suspects was not known, but Somali pirates are active in the Indian Ocean... more:
10:53 PDT PARIS, France (AP) -- French soldiers successfully defended two fishing boats from capture by pirates in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, and 11 men suspected of involvement in the failed attack were pursued at sea and captured, officials said.
The chain of events illustrated the teamwork in the international community to crack down on piracy in the Indian Ocean, where pirates cruise the waters searching for boats to hijack for ransoms.
After French soldiers chased away the pirates, the coast guard of the Seychelles archipelago, south of where the attack took place, chased the assailants. The coast guard captured two boats — a small craft with eight men aboard and a larger ship carrying three that was the pirates' suspected mothership, said Jacqueline Sherriff, chief press officer for the maritime unit of NATO in Northwood, outside London.
It was not clear how many pirates had been involved in the attack, and whether any got away. The nationality of the suspects was not known, but Somali pirates are active in the Indian Ocean... more:
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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.
Copyright © 2009 Associated Press
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.
Copyright © 2009 Associated Press
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Somali Pirates Fire on U.S. Helicopter
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Somali pirates holding a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia fired at a U.S. Navy helicopter as it made a surveillance flight over the vessel, the first such attack by pirates on an American military aircraft, the Navy said Thursday. More...
North Korean Ship Fights Off Somali Pirates
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Somali pirates tried but failed to hijack a North Korean cargo ship when crew members fought back with molotov cocktails and sped away, a maritime official said Tuesday. More...
Russia Says Ship and Crew Are Safe
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ The Arctic Sea, missing since last month, was 300 miles off Cape Verde, the Russia Defense Ministry said. More...
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Somali pirates holding a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia fired at a U.S. Navy helicopter as it made a surveillance flight over the vessel, the first such attack by pirates on an American military aircraft, the Navy said Thursday. More...
North Korean Ship Fights Off Somali Pirates
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Somali pirates tried but failed to hijack a North Korean cargo ship when crew members fought back with molotov cocktails and sped away, a maritime official said Tuesday. More...
Russia Says Ship and Crew Are Safe
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ The Arctic Sea, missing since last month, was 300 miles off Cape Verde, the Russia Defense Ministry said. More...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Russia Says Ship and Crew Are Safe
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
The Arctic Sea, missing since last month, was 300 miles off Cape Verde, the Russia Defense Ministry said.
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
The Arctic Sea, missing since last month, was 300 miles off Cape Verde, the Russia Defense Ministry said.
Hostages Overcome Pirates on 2 Fishing Boats Off Somali Coast
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Egyptian fishermen used machetes and guns to take back their ships from captors who had demanded a ransom of $1.5 million.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Egyptian fishermen used machetes and guns to take back their ships from captors who had demanded a ransom of $1.5 million.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Somali Teenager Is Indicted for Piracy in Cargo-Ship Seizure: By CHAD BRAY:
NEW YORK -- A Somali teenager has been indicted on piracy and other charges in the hostage taking of the captain of an American-flagged cargo ship in April.
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse faces 10 counts, including piracy, seizing a ship by force and hostage taking. The piracy charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison.
A lawyer for Mr. Muse didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.
The American-flagged container ship Maersk Alabama was hijacked by a group of pirates off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean on April 8.
Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Muse was the first pirate to board the ship, and that he conducted himself as the leader of the group. The pirates later left the ship on a lifeboat and took its captain hostage, prosecutors said.
On April 12, Mr. Muse left the lifeboat and boarded the U.S.S. Bainbridge, a U.S. Navy missile destroyer that was by then shadowing the lifeboat, while the other pirates continued to hold hostage the captain, American Richard Phillips, prosecutors said. Mr. Muse demanded safe passage for the pirates and received medical attention. U.S. Navy snipers later killed the three remaining pirates on the lifeboat, freeing Capt. Phillips.
Mr. Muse was brought to the U.S. last month and charged.
NEW YORK -- A Somali teenager has been indicted on piracy and other charges in the hostage taking of the captain of an American-flagged cargo ship in April.
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse faces 10 counts, including piracy, seizing a ship by force and hostage taking. The piracy charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison.
A lawyer for Mr. Muse didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.
The American-flagged container ship Maersk Alabama was hijacked by a group of pirates off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean on April 8.
Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Muse was the first pirate to board the ship, and that he conducted himself as the leader of the group. The pirates later left the ship on a lifeboat and took its captain hostage, prosecutors said.
On April 12, Mr. Muse left the lifeboat and boarded the U.S.S. Bainbridge, a U.S. Navy missile destroyer that was by then shadowing the lifeboat, while the other pirates continued to hold hostage the captain, American Richard Phillips, prosecutors said. Mr. Muse demanded safe passage for the pirates and received medical attention. U.S. Navy snipers later killed the three remaining pirates on the lifeboat, freeing Capt. Phillips.
Mr. Muse was brought to the U.S. last month and charged.
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