Four Iranian fishermen hostages of pirates freed

(B2) Several Iranian fishermen held hostage by a group of pirates in Somalia were freed on Wednesday (4 November), local officials said the following day. The security forces of Galgadud (one of the regions of Somalia) raided a house near Adado and succeeded in freeing 4 or 5 hostages (the figure varies according to sources).

« Security forces free four Iranians held hostage by pirates Abdirahmen Mohamed, an official with Galgadud's security services, told AFP. " Two of the kidnappers were arrested during the raid " he added.

The pirates had managed to seize an Iranian fishing boat last March (the first capture since 2012). Another Iranian boat was captured in May, officially after having had to enter a port in Galgadug due to a mechanical problem. Many boats fish in the Somali economic zone, known to be very fishy.

There are still 41 sailors held hostage by Somali pirates, according to our database, 26 according to the official EU and NATO count (Also read: How many sailors are still hostages of Somali pirates?)

(NGV)