Latest piracy news (April 8, 2012). A group of pirates neutralized by Aconite
(BRUSSELS2) On the morning of April 7, 2012, while the frigate Aconit was heading north of the Horn of Africa to join the Spanish frigate Infanta Elena, and taking over the escort of a World Food Program ship, a whaleboat towing a skiff was spotted.
We are then close to 600 km away, and there is normally no fishing activity in this area. Which " immediately aroused the suspicions of the sailors of Aconite “says one to the French command of the navy. " The interception was then quickly ordered by the commander”. The visiting team then has eight suspects aboard the whaleboat. No material related to piracy activity” could be found on board (grapnel, weapon…) although a good part was probably thrown overboard ».
The whaleboat was destroyed, the suspects transferred aboard the Aconit for questioning, and the skiff boarded the frigate. Since no facts could be reproached, the decision was taken to release the suspects. After a day of transit necessary to get closer to the Somali coast, they were therefore released.
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