British Navy nabs 13 Somali pirates
January 14th, 2012 - 8:36 am ICT by IANSLondon, Jan 14 (IANS) The British Royal Navy has captured 13 Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, defence ministry said.
A British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) supply ship and a US Navy vessel intercepted the pirates’ boat, which refused to stop despite warning shots fired from a British helicopter.
The British Navy then sent commandos to board the boat, capturing the pirates and seizing their weapons, Xinhua reported Friday.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the British troops, part of a NATO-led counter-piracy force, could be “proud” of the success.
Captain Gerry Northwood, who leads the operation, said Tuesday’s capture will “send a clear message to other Somali pirates that we will not tolerate their attacks on international shipping”.
Earlier this week, the same British ship, RFA Fort Victoria, foiled an attempt by Somali pirates to attack cargo ships in the Indian Ocean, the ministry added.
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- UK Navy gave captured Somali pirates 'halal meat', nicotine patch before released - Apr 12, 2011
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- Thai Navy disrupts Somali pirate attack on Liberian-flagged vessel - Nov 01, 2010
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- Gurkhas, sonic arms, razor wire protecting cruise passengers from Somali pirates - Apr 18, 2011
- Denmark to deploy surveillance aircraft against Somali pirates - Oct 28, 2011
- Without UN effort, piracy elimination difficult: India - Jun 27, 2011
Tags: british navy, british royal navy, british ship, british troops, cargo ships, commandos, defence ministry, defence secretary, international shipping, london jan, nabs, navy vessel, northwood, philip hammond, royal fleet, somali pirates, supply ship, us navy, warning shots, xinhua