The Johan de Witt captures a few more pirates. He plays the surprise

(BRUSSELS2) The Dutch ship, Hr Ms Johan de Witt, which is participating in the European anti-piracy operation Atalanta, disarmed a pirate group in the Somali basin on May 7. A mother ship and its two skiffs had been spotted beforehand by the Swedish maritime patrol plane from Atalanta. The Dutch warship which was only 30 miles from the “targets” detached two of its landing craft which discreetly approached the pirates. 11 suspects were arrested. In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Atalanta command, and after consultation with the Dutch public prosecutor, they were however released.

The boats were stored with those taken in recent weeks, on the ship's deck. The Dutch have, in fact, participated in concert with the French frigate La Fayette, to an interception of another pirate group on May 5, about 360 miles northwest of the Seychelles.

Very discreet and very useful barges

The landing craft of the Johan de Witt like to use the element of surprise. Thus, during a patrol along the Somali coast, carried out at the end of April, they were able to surprise and intercept two mother ships (whalers) heading out to sea. As Major Theo Mestrini, who had swapped his bed in his cabin on the ship for a camp bed on board one of the barges, recounts: “ we were very close to one of the pirate camps and we observed their activities during the night. Early in the morning, we suddenly spotted a big fishing boat. We approached him. It turned out to be a whaling ship used as a mother ship and equipped for piracy. The crew was totally surprised and seemed confused. But it soon became clear that the whaler was on its way to the ocean. »