12 Somali Pirates Hijack Iranian Fishing Vessel With 23 On Board

Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian ship with 23 crew onboard; maritime monitors warn it could be used as a floating base for attacks on commercial ships in the region.

The vessel Azini was seized on October 29 off the northeastern coast of Somalia, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean; a Puntland maritime security officer told AP it happened between Bandar Beyla and Hafun, AP News reports. The police said 12 pirates were behind the hijacking of the vessel carrying 21 Iranian sailors and two Somali security guards.

The European Union’s Operation Atalanta is investigating, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean. The crew members’ safety is still unknown, according to an alert. An updated alert says that the pirates could utilise the fishing vessel as a “floating base” to carry out attacks on other commercial vessels.

The seizure comes amid a rise in piracy attacks across the Gulf of Aden and the western side of the Indian Ocean. ABC News reports that Puntland authorities reported that pirates have killed five sailors of the vessel MT Honour 25 before the security recovered the ship in September. 16 suspected pirates were jailed.

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