Spain arrests 2 Somali pirates

2009-10-04 18:01

Madrid - The Spanish navy arrested early on Sunday two Somali pirates who took part in the hijacking of a tuna trawler which remained in the hands of bandits near the Somali coast, the defence ministry said.

The two pirates were captured by a frigate which followed them after they left the Spanish trawler, General Jaime Dominguez Buj told the media.

One of the pirates was slightly wounded during the arrest, Dominguez said.

The Alakrana fishing boat and its 36-member crew were seized by the pirates in the early hours of Friday in the high seas between Somalia and the Seychelles.

One of the sailors told Spain's Cadena Ser radio that the crew "is alright". The pirates gave the sailors permission for a few minutes to call their families, he said.

The captain also briefly spoke with Spain's ambassador in Kenya and said the crew was in the ship's dining hall, the Spanish government said.

While following the Alakrana, the Spanish navy noticed the pirates' vessel, which had been hooked to the tuna trawler, had disappeared.

Two planes from the EU's anti-piracy mission were alerted and quickly found the pirate boat, allowing the Canarias frigate to make the two arrests overnight, the general said.

Spain's El Pais newspaper said 13 pirates are believed to be aboard the trawler. Dominguez refused to confirm the figure.

Two frigates were keeping an eye on the Alakrana in front of the Somali coast.

- SAPA