Five pirates arrested by the Louise-Marie (maj2)
(BRUSSELS2) The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie, which is cruising off Somalia on behalf of the European operation Eunavfor Atalanta, intercepted five pirates on Saturday (December 15), around 15 p.m. local time. An arrest that owes nothing to chance. The men were tracked. As early as Wednesday, a suspicious group of skiffs was spotted off the coast of Somalia by Eunavfor patrol planes. The Louise-Marie is then in the process of leaving the port of Mombasa (in Kenya) where she had put in. The closest to the place, she then heads towards the area.
The suspicious boat was located again on Saturday (December 15) around 12 p.m. by the Swedish Coast Guard patrol plane, based in the Seychelles. The Louise Marie's helicopter intervened immediately, followed at sea by the RHIB with the boarding team. " After the verbal summons, the pirates quickly raised their arms “says the Belgian navy. " Their boat was equipped with a ladder and a grappling hook. Which leaves little doubt about their intentions. However " no weapon was found " on board. The skiff was brought back on board, for evidence, or if it is necessary to release the pirates, to put them back in the water in freedom.
The suspects, however, are believed to have attacked the MV Papua (*), on November 28, 500 nautical miles from the Somali coast. The pirates in two skiffs, backed by a mother ship, had then attempted to storm the vessel, armed with grappling hooks and ladders. They had been pushed back by the private security team on board. The system in place for both visual (photographs, testimonials, etc.) and biometric identification developed by the anti-piracy forces could help confuse pirates. It will then remain to find the competent court (and who agrees to judge them). (Update) They will not be able to be tried in Belgium, assured the federal prosecutor's office through his spokesperson.
Legal consequences... or not
Pending a legal action, the defendants were treated for dehydration, exhaustion and malnutrition. One of them suffered an abscess on the wrist and will be operated on by the on-board surgeon ” we specify on the Belgian side. " Without the presence of the frigate, they would no doubt have could die ».
After 4 days in detention, the suspects were released off a Somali beach on Wednesday (December 19) in the early morning (4 a.m. local time), " after examining the available evidence” we specify at the HQ of Atalanta (and available courts, one might add). “The Belgian magistrate on board the ship investigated and established that there is no link between the parties concerned and the perpetrators of previous acts of piracy against a ship flying the Belgian flag” we specify on the side of the Belgian General Staff.
(*) a merchant ship of a German shipowner flying the Liberian flag, very discreet. Probably due to the presence of private guards on board
(Maj 1 and 2: details provided on the legal consequences and the state of the suspects apprehended)
