2 new pirate groups neutralized. Freed Pirates

(BRUSSELS2) Two pirate groups were neutralized yesterday, announced the HQ of Atalanta, the European anti-piracy operation: one by a Dutch frigate, the other by a Seychelles coastguard ship. In both cases, the pirates were released - or will be released - for lack of evidence.

1st "neutralization" by the Dutch frigate

After the failed attack on the MV Lübeck by two pirate skiffs, less than 100 miles off the Seychelles coast, on March 12, the European anti-piracy force in the Indian Ocean launched an operation to search for the pirate groups at fault. The overflight of the area by Luxembourg and Swedish patrol planes made it possible to trace the pirate group and guide an Atalanta ship. The Dutch frigate, HNLMS Tromp, was tasked with the operation. His helicopter spotted the "mother ship", a 10-meter whaler. But " it took several warning shots for him to stop. The visiting team (from the Tromp) on board a RHIB then took control of the boat and apprehended 2 people who were on board (see photo above). After some searching that lasted until the next day, two more suspicious skiffs were spotted, with 7 people on board. The sailors were able to find on board piracy equipment and weapons. » explains an Atalanta officer. "The equipment was confiscated and the mother ship was destroyed (see photo below). »

On board, the sailors found, 6 AK-47s, a rocket launcher, 4 knives, ladders and telephones satellites according to the Dutch army. The 9 suspects were put on board the Tromp. But no tangent evidence can be held against them, they will be released, put back in the remaining skiff, off the Somali coast, in accordance with European instructions.

2nd taken by the coastguards of the Seychelles

In addition, the Seychelles coastguard vessel, the Andromache, was guided by an EUNAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft towards another group of pirates (classically composed of a mother ship and 2 skiffs) on which weighed strong presumptions to be at the origin of the attack on the Spanish Basque tuna boat Txori Argi, this Sunday. 9 people were on board. But in “due to the lack of evidence found on the spot, they could not be arrested” (and prosecuted), said the office of the president, the president of Seychelles, and “ released at the limit of the territorial waters of the Seychelles ».

In 15 days, 10 pirate groups were neutralized

by a combined action of EU, NATO, national (France) and local (Seychelles) forces: 5 pirate groups by the French frigate Nivose (Eunavfor) and the "Commandos Marines" embarked on the Torre Giulia, 1 group by the Danish frigate Absalon (NATO), 1 group by the flagship Etna (Eunavfor), another by the German ship Emden (Eunavfor), and the last 2 by the Dutch frigate Tromp (Eunavfor) and the guard ship -coasts of the Seychelles, the Andromache. All well aided by the three maritime patrol aircraft: the Luxembourg Merlin III, the Swedish dash which immediately proves its usefulness, the Spanish P3 Orion.

Basically everyone got into it. But of this number, only 11 suspects could be prosecuted...