Copenhagen, Dec 15, (dpa/GNA) – Pirates, have taken several hostages in an attack on a ship, off the coast of West Africa.
“We can confirm that, according to our information, the pirates have taken six hostages from a Liberian-flagged container ship,” a spokesperson for the Danish Defence Command told dpa on Wednesday.
The shipping nation of Denmark sent a frigate to the Gulf of Guinea some time ago, to protect shipping in international waters from pirates. The region is considered one of the most dangerous areas for merchant ships worldwide.
The Danish Defence Command had initially announced on Tuesday that the frigate Esbern Snare, had assisted a container ship after a pirate attack.
The pirates were sighted near the island of Bioko in international waters. A dispatched helicopter then received an alarm from a container ship.
The helicopter crew then spotted a smaller boat alongside the container ship, with several suspected pirates and hostages.
The pirates then set course for the Niger Delta, further north, the report added.
The helicopter had returned to the frigate, lacking permission to pursue pirates in national waters.
A crew member of the container ship was injured by gunfire during the pirate attack, but is in stable condition.
GNA