13.10.2009
Source:
Somali pirates hijacked Spanish fishing vessel Alakrana with 36 crewmembers aboard on Oct 2 demand to release two their companions arrested by Spanish Navy on Oct 4, said France Press.
"Two our friends are arrested by foreign military and this fact slows down the vessel release process. We want them to set our friends free and afterwards we will discuss the matters of ship and hostages release", said one of pirates named Abdi Mohamed at phone talk with the agency.
According to Spanish agency
EFE, two arrested pirates were delivered to Madrid Monday morning where they will face trial on Tuesday 7.00 am, local time on 36 charges of illegal deprivation of freedom and one kidnapping with force. One of pirates got slightly hurt during arrest and was medically treated upon arrival at the capital.
Fishing vessel
Alacrana registered in port Bermeo (Basque Provinces) was hijacked by Somali pirates in India Ocean on Friday, Oct 2 about 5.00 am, local time. The ship had put to sea for fishery on Aug 31, 2009 suffered pirate assaults on Sept 4 but the crew managed to escape then.
Spanish frigate
Canaria patrolling Indian Ocean water zone under
Atalanta EU anti-piracy operation received distress signal about
Alacrana from other Spanish fishing vessel
Alakrantxu and headed for incident site.
Two pirates left hijacked vessel on a small boat on the night of Sunday (Oct 3-4) were heading for the coast when were detected by patrol aircraft
P3-Orion and later apprehended by Spanish military.
During hijacking of the vessel frigate
Canaria was 800 miles away from incident site and
Alakrana ship – 300 miles far from security zone of EU forces deployed in the region.
Since the beginning of 2009 Somali pirates have assaulted over 200 vessels. During last year they hijacked 49 ships.
Despite all efforts of international community Somali pirates continue attacking vessels at the Gulf of Aden. According to experts, pirates often sail to Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in search of loot.
