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Latest piracy news (August 29, 2011) (updated)

(BRUSSELS2) India sees Pakistan behind the pirates. According to the daily Times of India, the last pirates arrested, after the attack on the MV Nafis-1 off Mumbai on August 14, had food packaged and produced in Pakistan on board, as well as a large amount of foreign currency ($86.000 and 1.500 Saudi Riyals). Customs officers seized sacks full of tea leaves which they believe were chewed by pirates (like khat) to stay awake. Indian security services suspect their neighbor of waging a proxy war by providing Somali pirates with logistical assistance.

Monday (August 29). Reinforcements for the Atalanta operation and dealing with the humanitarian crisis

The frigate Cologne left the port of Wilhelmshaven (northern Germany) to join the EU anti-piracy operation deployed in the Indian Ocean. It is the second German frigate to be engaged simultaneously with the frigate Bavaria. She should be in Djibouti in mid-September with her 220 crew and soldiers. A Spanish corvette Infant Christina (P-77), an 88-meter-long Descubierta-class ship, left the port of Cartagena on August 17 with a hundred crew members and a team of "marines". This is the second time this vessel has been engaged off Somalia. A Spanish amphibious ship, the Galicia, is already engaged. Operation Atalanta should have 8 ships instead of the usual 6. This reinforcement comes as requests for escort from World Food Program ships are increasing with the food crisis in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

The Koln from Wilhemhaven (credit: Bundeswehr / Sophie Fiebeler)

29 August. And Russian relief

A new detachment of Russian ships has left the port of Vladivostok to set sail for the Gulf of Aden, according to the RIA Novosti agency. It is the sixth detachment since the Russian engagement in the Indian Ocean to fight against piracy. It includes the anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleev, a supply ship and a tug, as well as units of the marine infantry.

27 August. The MV Polar and the Mv Eagle released

Somali pirates released the Panamanian-flagged Greek tanker Mv Polar and his crew against a ransom, announced on August 28 the NGO Ecop pirates. One of the sailors is missing. He died three weeks after the ship was captured. The other 23 crew members are fine. The Mv Polar had been captured on October 30, 2010. Release confirmed by European HQ Eunavfor Atalanta on August 30: the ship is in a safe place in Salalah.

Another Greek ship, the bulk carrier MV Eagle, in a "poorly planned release operation", and after a "substantial" ransom. But according to the NGO, the ship would be immobilized with an engine failure, escorted by a warship and a boat with security teams. The NGO fears a shipwreck " with the aim of cashing in the insurance as was the case with MV Rak Africana and MV Suez recently ».

Monday (August 22) Pirate sentenced to life in prison in the USA

An East Virginia District Court judge on Monday (August 22) sentenced Somalian Ali Abdi Mohamed to life in prison for piracy. He was found guilty of taking part in the capture of an American pleasure boat and 4 US hostages off the coast of Somalia. The 4 American hostages had died between the attack and the assault led by the marines. The person concerned admitted his guilt like 10 other of his co-religionists.

Saturday (August 20) Fairchem Bogey hacked near Oman

Flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, the 52.455 ton tanker Mv Fairchem Bogey was hacked while anchored in the port of Salalah (Oman), in the early hours of August 20. This is the first time that pirates have ventured so close to the Emirate. He headed for the Somali coast confirmed the EU anti-piracy HQ. On board a crew of 21 people.

Read also: Latest piracy news (August 14)

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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