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Nearly 1000 pirates disarmed in a few months

12th October, 201011th May 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde

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(BRUSSELS2) According to the latest report, the milestone of 1000 pirates disarmed in the last seven months by the European anti-piracy force has been crossed. Operation Atalanta has dismantled 85 armed groups. " Which means a fivefold increase in the number of disarmed pirates “, underlined the Spanish Minister of Defense, Carme Chacon before the Spanish Council of Ministers, on October 8. At the same time, 20 mother ships (whalers) and 117 skiffs were seized and destroyed.

Two Spanish ships are currently engaged in Operation Atalanta – the amphibious ship Galicia (L-51) and the patrol boat Infanta Cristina (P-77) – as well as a maritime patrol aircraft.

It should also be noted that Spain has modified its internal legal system on two points. On the one hand to allow private security companies which can provide protection services on board ships to use large caliber weapons (The government has moreover ensured the training of these guards, as well as their transport on place with arms). On the other hand, the offense of piracy was reintroduced into the penal code (by a law of June 22).

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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