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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ship seized by pirates 'stormed' | Ship seized by pirates 'stormed' |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Danish special forces have stormed a ship captured by Somali pirates and freed 25 crew members, an EU naval spokesman said in Nairobi. | Danish special forces have stormed a ship captured by Somali pirates and freed 25 crew members, an EU naval spokesman said in Nairobi. |
| Cdr John Harbour told the Associated Press news agency it was the first time a warship had intervened after pirates boarded a vessel. | Cdr John Harbour told the Associated Press news agency it was the first time a warship had intervened after pirates boarded a vessel. |
| Troops in inflatable dinghies moved in after a distress signal from the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Ariella. | Troops in inflatable dinghies moved in after a distress signal from the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Ariella. |
| It is not clear if the pirates left the ship before the troops arrived. | It is not clear if the pirates left the ship before the troops arrived. |
| The special forces, who set out from a Danish warship in the area, scaled the side of the ship and freed the 25 crew members, who had locked themselves in a secure room, Cdr Harbour said. | The special forces, who set out from a Danish warship in the area, scaled the side of the ship and freed the 25 crew members, who had locked themselves in a secure room, Cdr Harbour said. |
| Troops were continuing to search the vessel for the pirates, he added. | Troops were continuing to search the vessel for the pirates, he added. |
| Perilous seas | |
| When the distress signal was received, the Danish warship Absalon sent a helicopter to confirm the presence of pirates, and communicated with the crew to ensure they were in a safe location, the spokesman said. | |
| Cdr Harbour praised Nato forces for their fast reaction and coordination with other forces in the area. | |
| There had, he said, "been many instances where there's been excellent cooperation and three, four or even five nations have helped deter a pirate attack". | |
| But, he added, "this is the first where a warship has been able to send forces to stop a hijacking while it was in progress". | |
| Warships typically do not intervene in hijackings because of the danger that crews may be hit by crossfire, the spokesman pointed out. | |
| But forces were able to intervene in this case because the ship had registered with naval authorities, was travelling along a recommended transit corridor and was part of a group transit, ensuring the ships had a helicopter within 30 minutes' reaction time. | |
| The location of the incident on Friday morning was not being reported immediately. | The location of the incident on Friday morning was not being reported immediately. |
| The waters around Somalia are among the most dangerous in the world, despite patrols from EU and other foreign naval forces. | The waters around Somalia are among the most dangerous in the world, despite patrols from EU and other foreign naval forces. |
| Somalia, riven by war, has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast, almost with impunity. | Somalia, riven by war, has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast, almost with impunity. |