A Breton tuna boat attacked in the Indian Ocean – exclusive (maj2)

(BRUSSELS2) The system of soldiers on board Breton fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean has once again been put to the test. It was around 11 a.m. GMT (14 p.m. local time) when two skiffs, with half a dozen people, approached the Cape St. Vincent, a 67-metre tuna boat, based in Concarneau, belonging to France-Thon (CMB/Saupiquet). It was then in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 350 miles from the Somali coast (a little closer to Somalia than to the Seychelles apparently according to the latest indications).

Graduated replica. The marines on board the tuna fired back. " A graduated response was made according to the usual device “, we specify to the General Staff of the armies in Paris, which confirms the information, “ with flares, shots in the air. And it took shots on goal” for the pirates to give way. No one in the crew of the tuna vessel was injured. The pirates were not immediately pursued, as there were no warships nearby. On the other hand, one of the assailants was killed or injured according to the organization Ecoterra. Unconfirmed information from the side of the General Staff. "Our soldiers are not instructed to pursue the pirates. As soon as they saw that the attackers were breaking off the attack, the tuna vessel continued on its way“I was told. An alert was also broadcast to all surrounding ships by Atalanta (the European anti-piracy operation). Read more

This is the third time that a Breton tuna boat has been attacked in the Indian Ocean - the Drennec, in September 2008, then the Glénan, in October 2009 - not counting thealakrana, a Spanish Basque tuna boat which was captured by pirates in September 2009 and whose crew is still being held hostage.