Suspected pirates held as marines free 20 captives
Source: Agencies |
October 21, 2011, Friday
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BRITISH marines have detained four suspected pirates and freed 20 crew members held hostage on a pirate "mothership" in the Indian Ocean, the UK government said yesterday.
The Ministry of Defense said the dhow had been hijacked by pirates to use as a base and was involved in attacks on merchant shipping.
The ministry said pirates were holding a Pakistani crew of 20 there when the British vessels HMS Somerset and RFA Fort Victoria - part of NATO's counter-piracy task force - closed in last Friday some 320 kilometers off the coast of Somalia.
Captain Shaun Jones said: "This operation demanded high levels of seamanship to ensure the dhow was kept under close observation as the boarding party moved in."
Backed by a helicopter, a boarding team surrounded the dhow and scaled the side of the vessel.
Captain Rod Yapp said: "Through my weapon sight I could see dark figures moving in the shadows on the bridge. We quickly boarded and secured the dhow, then mustered the 24 occupants on her bow."
While pirates were seen ditching equipment and weapons before the boarding, the ministry said a "large cache" of weapons - including a rocket-propelled grenade - and equipment from a previously pirated ship were found on board.
The ministry said the four suspected pirates have been handed to Italian authorities on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the Italian cargo vessel MV Montecristo on October 11.
The Ministry of Defense said the dhow had been hijacked by pirates to use as a base and was involved in attacks on merchant shipping.
The ministry said pirates were holding a Pakistani crew of 20 there when the British vessels HMS Somerset and RFA Fort Victoria - part of NATO's counter-piracy task force - closed in last Friday some 320 kilometers off the coast of Somalia.
Captain Shaun Jones said: "This operation demanded high levels of seamanship to ensure the dhow was kept under close observation as the boarding party moved in."
Backed by a helicopter, a boarding team surrounded the dhow and scaled the side of the vessel.
Captain Rod Yapp said: "Through my weapon sight I could see dark figures moving in the shadows on the bridge. We quickly boarded and secured the dhow, then mustered the 24 occupants on her bow."
While pirates were seen ditching equipment and weapons before the boarding, the ministry said a "large cache" of weapons - including a rocket-propelled grenade - and equipment from a previously pirated ship were found on board.
The ministry said the four suspected pirates have been handed to Italian authorities on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the Italian cargo vessel MV Montecristo on October 11.
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