Reuters: Somali Pirates Seized Iranian Fishing Boat
A Somali local official confirmed that pirates from the country have seized an Iranian fishing boat.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, June 2nd, quoting Ali Shir, the mayor of one of Somalia’s northern cities, that the pirates abducted the boat with the intention of using it to attack larger and more valuable ships. This pirate action occurred after a prolonged period of calm in regional shipping.
According to the news agency, sailors have recently reduced security measures and traveled closer to areas near the shores where pirates operate. Pirate gangs attack these ships using small, fast boats from Somali coasts.
Ali Shir told Reuters: “Somali pirates seized a small Iranian fishing boat and are now using it as a main vessel to attack other ships.”
According to him, this Iranian boat did not have a fishing license for the shores of Puntland in northern Somalia. Iranian boats have been repeatedly attacked by pirates in recent years, and several fishermen and sailors have been taken captive.
Fishermen from two boats, Seraj and Jaber, were captured by Somali pirates in March 2015. During this period, a number of Iranian fishermen died in captivity while others managed to escape.
Iranian newspapers in recent months reported, citing families of these fishermen who are all from Sistan and Baluchestan, that the pirates demanded several hundred thousand dollars in ransom for the release of the captives.
Source: Voice of America
