The crew of a Libyan owned cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates managed to regain control of their vessel when rival pirate gangs engaged in a shootout. It is estimated that nine pirates died in the clash.
The ship had been hijacked by pirates four months ago and was on the northern coastline of Somalia when the violence broke out. One of the ten sailors who overpowered the six pirates on the ship was seriously injured in the incident.
After the crew retook control of the vessel a helicopter from a nearby naval warship, part of a European Union anti-piracy mission, was sent to the ship to provide medical assistance.
According to a press release from the European naval force Somalia other pirates also approached the ship and there were “confusing reports that the ship had been pirated again.” They reported that all the pirates fled after the helicopter arrived on the scene. No warning shots were fired.
The ship had been hijacked by pirates four months ago and was on the northern coastline of Somalia when the violence broke out. One of the ten sailors who overpowered the six pirates on the ship was seriously injured in the incident.
After the crew retook control of the vessel a helicopter from a nearby naval warship, part of a European Union anti-piracy mission, was sent to the ship to provide medical assistance.
According to a press release from the European naval force Somalia other pirates also approached the ship and there were “confusing reports that the ship had been pirated again.” They reported that all the pirates fled after the helicopter arrived on the scene. No warning shots were fired.
