Today.Az » World news » Turkish navy captures seven pirates off Somalia
07 March 2010 [02:00] - Today.Az
A Turkish frigate intercepted a skiff in the Gulf of Aden and captured seven alleged pirates on Saturday on suspicion that they were preparing for attacks, the Turkish military said, AFP reported.
The Gemlik, operating with NATO forces in the region, spotted the skiff at around 3:00 a.m. (0100 GMT), about 55 miles from the shore in a transit corridor commercial vessels are encouraged to use for safe passage.
The Turkish frigate stopped the boat, detained those on board and seized an assault rifle, along with equipment used in piracy operations, the general staff said in a statement on its Internet site.
A photograph posted on the army's web site showed a Turkish soldier aboard the skiff and the pirates holding their hands up in surrender.
Somalia's sea bandits hijacked 68 ships in 2009 and raked in an estimated 60 million dollars (44 million euros) in ransom money.
/Trend News/
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