'No pirate attacks off Somalia in last six months,' claims 'Atalanta' commander

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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No pirate attacks occurred off the coast of East Africa during the first six months of 2015, according to the commander of the European Union's (EU's) Operation 'Atalanta' counter-piracy mission in the region.

"We've suppressed it by military means, applying best practices in the commercial shipping sector and using private security firms [on board commercial ships]," British general Martin Smith said. However, he warned that "the threat of piracy in this region very much still exists."

Gen Smith spoke to reporters in Brussels on 8 July after presenting a report on Operation 'Atalanta' for the period January-June 2015. The mission currently deploys a low level of assets - two warships and one maritime patrol aircraft - mainly due to the monsoon season, although earlier this year it had seven warships and three maritime patrol aircraft deployed, he said.

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