News

Stay informed with RSS

News

Piracy

Two pirates detained in relation to hijacked boat 'Alakrana'

AP

10/04/2009

Two suspected pirates had been captured as they navigated a small boat in the vicinity of the Alakrana.

Comments

A hijacked trawler has been taken to port in Somalia with pirates still in charge of the vessel, the Spanish government said Sunday.

The Spanish-owned fishing boat Alakrana was hijacked by pirates early Friday. It is being monitored by two navy warships, rescue force commander Gen. Jaime Dominguez said.

Dominguez also said at a press conference that two suspected pirates had been captured as they navigated a small boat in the vicinity of the Alakrana.

The two had just come off the Alakrana aboard a motorized skiff that carried 14 containers of fuel, Dominguez said.

One of the suspected pirates was shot and slightly wounded as Spanish naval personnel boarded the skiff, Dominguez said.

Spanish frigate Canarias and Dutch warship Germinal caught up with the tuna-fishing vessel during the night and shadowed it as it made for the Somali coast, Domiguez said.

Dominguez did not specify which port the Alakrana had arrived at.

The boat had been fishing for tuna 800 miles from the nearest navy escort when it was boarded by pirates. It was the second attack on the Alakrana in less than a month after the captain had to take evasive action to dodge a pirate approach on Sept. 4.

top stories

Most watched