Somalia pirates arrested after attack on EU naval ship
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Xinhua, January 13, 2012
Six suspected Somali pirates have been arrested after firing upon European Union naval warship which had just completed its escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying food-aid into Somalia, officials said on Friday.
EU Naval Force Spokesman Harrie Harrison said ESPS PATINO, the EU naval flagship was attacked close to the port of Mogadishu in Somalia early on Thursday.
"The suspected pirates opened fire with light calibre weapons and tried to board the PATINO. The ship's force-protection team returned fire in self-defense and the ship's helicopter was launched," Harrison said in a statement released on Friday.
He said the warship's guards returned fire and the ship's helicopter was launched, prompting the pirates to throw their weapons, ladder and fuel barrels overboard and then surrendered.
According to Harrison, the skiff broke off the attack and the men surrendered to the helicopter after throwing their weapons, ladder and fuel barrels overboard.
He said five of the six men who were in the skiff had received injuries, two of which required medical treatment onboard the PATINO.
"Investigations are ongoing to check whether the suspect pirates' report that a seventh man who had been in the skiff and who was lost overboard during the attack are correct," Harrisson said.
EU Naval Force Somalia conducts counter-piracy in the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Programme ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Somalia and the logistic support vessels of the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia.
Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia. The Horn of Africa nation has been without a functioning government since 1991, and remains one of the world's most violent and lawless countries.
Combined Task Force 150, a naval alliance dominated by the United States and based in the Gulf of Aden nation of Djibouti, is patrolling an area within the Gulf of Aden to help protect ships from pirates.
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