Somali pirates who hijacked a Chinese fishing vessel off the North-east coast of Puntland, Somalia, demanded a ransom payment for the vessel and its 18 crew members, police and local officials said on 7 December.
The fishing vessel was taken under the control of the alleged pirates on 6 December, some of whom were reported to be carrying AK-47 and machine guns. EU Naval Force ATALANTA classified the incident as armed robbery at sea. As reported, the boat was hijacked by men who had been contracted to provide “protection” before later being reinforced by other pirates said Mohamed Dini, police officer in Eyl, adding that they had demanded payment for its release.
“The pirates are moving the ship off the coast… they are looking for a safe haven” Mohamed Dini told AFP.
Moreover, local fishermen said the boat came close to Eyl however the pirates pushed back into the sea out of fear of Puntland’s coast guards.
To remind, on 6 December EU Naval Force ATALANTA issued an update on the piracy threat off the coast of Somalia and had stated that this event could be related to frictions in the area between local fishermen and foreign fishing fleets engaged in illegal extractive activities.
