04.10.2009
Source:
Spanish naval frigate Canaria patrolling Indian Ocean zone under European anti-piracy operation Atalanta on the night of Sunday arrested two Somali prates who were among those hijacked Spanish fishing vessel Alakrana on Friday, said Spanish media on Sunday.
On Friday, 7.30 am, Moscow time, Spanish frigate
Canaria patrolling Indian Ocean zone under European anti-piracy operation
Atalanta received a distress call about hijacking of Alakrana vessel from another Spanish fishing ship Alakrantxu trawling in the same area. Spanish military alerted P3-Orion reconnaissance aircraft. Two more aircrafts from the EU mission in Seychelles participate in ship-release operation. Pictures taken by P3-Orion aircraft give evidence of armed people aboard Alakrana.
Both pirates left hijacked vessel on a small boat in the night and headed for the coast, when they were detected by P3-Orion patrol aircraft and then arrested by Spanish military. One of hijackers was lightly wounded during the arrest.
In the moment of seizure, Canaria frigate was 800 miles off the accident site and Alakrana vessel – 350 miles away from EU security zone.
Crisis commission created by Spanish government on Friday right after it had been reported about hijacking of Alakrana vessel, conducted its third session on Sunday to plan ship-release operation jointly with Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Atmospheric and Aquatic Environment and General Staff.
The data about the vessel's location is being permanently sent to Madrid; it is obtained by EU aircrafts patrolling the area and taking part in Atlanta operation.
Frigate Canaria is expected to approach hijacked ship in the nearest hours. Spanish military's objective is to intercept Alakrana before pirates reach coast and land the crew. Otherwise, the crew-release operation will become seriously difficult.
Spain "will be cruelly punished for illegal fishing" off-shore Somali and for participation in international anti-piracy operation, said pirates' representative on Saturday.
There are 36 men aboard Alakrana; 16 of them are Spanish, and the rest are sailors from various countries. Alakrana vessel is registered in Bermeo port (Basque Provinces) and put to sea for fishing on August 31.
In Sunday some of crewmembers managed to call relatives and say that "all is well".
Journalist of Spanish National Television (TVE1) managed to get ship's captain Ricardo Blach on the phone who briefly told that pirates allowed them switching on cell phones to communicate with relatives and that "everything is alright, we stay calm".
Alakrana vessel suffered pirate assault once on Sept 4, but the crew managed to escape thanks to bad weather and uplifted fishing nets.
