div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } Five Somali pirates are in custody after mistaking a French naval vessel for a "harmless" commercial cargo ship in the Indian Ocean.
A military spokesman said today that the blundering pirates aboard attacked the Somme, a naval command and fuel supply ship, from two small skiffs last night. The 157-metre Somme is used as the command centre for all French military forces in the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Christophe Prazuck said that the Somme, which is equipped with a range of cannon and machineguns, repelled the attack and immediately gave chase, seizing one boat and capturing five pirates after an hour-long chase.
The men had thrown their weapons overboard by the time they were captured some 250 miles off the Somalian coast.
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"The pirates, who because of the darkness took the French ship for a commercial vessel, were on board two vessels and opened fire with Kalashnikovs," said Admiral Prazuck. "They apparently thought it was a harmless cargo ship but understood their mistake too late."
France is a key member of the European Union’s naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
A military spokesman said today that the blundering pirates aboard attacked the Somme, a naval command and fuel supply ship, from two small skiffs last night. The 157-metre Somme is used as the command centre for all French military forces in the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Christophe Prazuck said that the Somme, which is equipped with a range of cannon and machineguns, repelled the attack and immediately gave chase, seizing one boat and capturing five pirates after an hour-long chase.
The men had thrown their weapons overboard by the time they were captured some 250 miles off the Somalian coast.
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"The pirates, who because of the darkness took the French ship for a commercial vessel, were on board two vessels and opened fire with Kalashnikovs," said Admiral Prazuck. "They apparently thought it was a harmless cargo ship but understood their mistake too late."
France is a key member of the European Union’s naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
