Navy Supply Ship hit by Pirates in Error
Super Yacht Captains who fear Pirate attacks in the Red Sea and around the coasts of Somalia may have little to worry about given the recent news that a group of Somali pirates has been captured after attacking La Somme a French Navy Supply ship by mistake, believing it to be a harmless cargo ship
Pirates attacked the ships using small boats with outboard engines late at night some 500km (310 miles) off the Somali coast but the auxillary support vessel: La Somme, which gave chase and intercepted one of the pirates’ boats the occupants of which were seen to toss weapons into the sea. Five suspected pirates are now being held on board the ship.
Admiral Christophe Prazuck, a spokesman for the French Navy said, “Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee.” He told the French TV station La Chaine Info that the pirates seemed to be surprised that the navy ship fought back. He added, “Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee.”