EU NAVFOR disrupts Somali pirate attack

EU NAVFOR disrupts Somali pirate attack

2010-11-17 23:36:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (BNO NEWS) -- A European Union (EU) Naval Force (NAVFOR) was able to disrupt a Pirate Action Group, the EU said Wednesday.

The EU NAVFOR French Flagship FS de Grasse. while sailing in the Gulf of Aden, intercepted and disrupted a Pirate Action Group comprising of one skiff with seven suspected pirates onboard.

Wednesday morning, the "Alouette" helicopter from the EU NAVFOR French warship FS Meuse detected the suspicious activity in the Gulf of Aden and informed FS de Grasse, who immediately launched her helicopter, locating the skiff with seven suspected pirates onboard.

During the operation, warning shots were fired from the helicopter to stop the skiff before he boarding team from FS de Grasse was dispatched and successfully intercepted the skiff.

Ladders were seen to be thrown overboard and the boarding team found weapons and ammunitions onboard the skiff (2 RPG, 2 launch disposals, 1 AK47 and 7.62 ammunitions).

As there was insufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution, the piracy paraphernalia were confiscated and the seven suspected pirates were returned to Somalia in their skiff.

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