May-23-12
Today from Hiiraan Online:  _
Somali Pirates Strike Again

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Somali pirates have hijacked a British cargo ship in the Indian Ocean.

A NATO official and a maritime watchdog association confirmed the capture Saturday.

Pirates also told journalists they had captured a Ukrainian ship carrying vehicles.

A day earlier, a Portuguese warship successfully prevented pirates from attacking a Norwegian-owned oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The warship sent a helicopter when the tanker's crew radioed for help, and the pirates fled in their small boat to their mothership.

Later the warship intercepted the larger ship. A NATO spokesman said four sticks of P4A explosives were found on the ship, among other weapons.  He said it was the first time such high grade explosives had been found, and that it was enough to blow a hole in the side of a ship.

The Portuguese initially detained the 19 suspects on board, but after consulting with Portuguese authorities, they released them.

Source: Voice of America, May 2, 2009


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