Nine pirates arrested off Eyl
(BRUSSELS2) That Somali piracy is not quite over and that the message of vigilance launched by the anti-piracy forces recently (read latest piracy news) was founded.
Suspicious activities were observed off the Somali coast, near Eyl in Puntland, early Tuesday morning (February 19). Two outboard skiffs traveling at high speed took a merchant ship, theAlba Star. Shots were even exchanged. However, the group of pirates did not have much time to linger in the area. It was quickly tracked by two ships of the European force EUNavfor Atalanta. First the De Ruyter, then the Mendez Nunes. A P3 Orion maritime surveillance plane (Spanish) takes off from Djibouti to help locate the attackers. He even throws smoke bombs to mark the position.
Combined Dutch-Spanish arrest
On Tuesday (February 19), the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, first locates the suspected group about 200 miles northeast of Eyl, off the coast of Somalia. The helicopter of De Ruyter - the NH 90 - locates the two skiffs, equipped with very powerful engines. As the helicopter approached, equipment went overboard and the two skiffs accelerated in an attempt to escape. The first skiff is stopped by Dutch riflemen aboard RHIB. While the second skiff is pursued by the Spaniards of the Mendez Nunezet stopped with the support of the SH-60B helicopter of the flagship of the European naval force.
Awaiting prosecution
The nine suspects were brought aboard the HNLMS De Ruyter for investigation, collect evidence and possibly consider the possibilities of prosecution. The two skiffs were seized, announces Eunavfor Atalanta HQ.
