Six suspected pirates are being held on an Italian Navy ship off Somalia Coast following foiled attacks on two foreign vessels, EU Naval force said on Sunday.
The Mission said in a press statement, the six suspected pirate crew using a motor-whaler and Skiff attacked a 52,000 tonne container ship and a fishing vessel on November 17 and 18.
The suspects who fired number of RPGs at the container ship overpowered following counter-piracy attack by the Italian ITS Virginio Fasan ship.
The attack took place in the southern Somali basin, according to the statement.
“The suspected pirates were apprehended by the Italian marines from ITS Virginio Fasan after their vessels were located using Fasan’s Sh-90 helicopter following initials searches by the Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Cisne,” reads part of the statement.
“This search for the suspected pirates was coordinates with partners and from information provides by the masters of vessels concerned,” it adds.
The Naval body said that RPGs fired at the container shop did not cause any damage to the ship.
“The presence of a security team on one of the vessels and good seamanship avoided any damage or injuries and all crew and vessels are now safe,” confirms the statement.
The mission said plans to transfer and prosecute the suspects are underway.
” A legal process has begun for the suspected pirates to be transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution,” noted EU Mission.
The mission have largely brought the piracy to an end and secured Indian Ocean.
However, experts warned that a new of illegal and unregulated fishing foreign trawlers may lead to new uprise of piracy in the Somalia waters.