04 May 2009

Pirates Hijack British-Owned Carrier in Indian Ocean

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May 2 (Bloomberg) -- Pirates hijacked a British-owned bulk carrier in the Indian Ocean a day after NATO’s anti-piracy mission foiled an attack by a ship armed with explosives and assault rifles.

The MV Ariana, carrying soya, was taken about 250 miles (400 kilometers) southwest of the Seychelles Islands, North Atlantic Treaty Organization spokesman Commander Chris Davies said in a telephone interview. The vessel is flagged in Malta and has a Ukrainian crew, Davies, based in Northwood, England, said.

“They are after its cargo and whatever they can get for its hostages is a bonus,” Davies said. The Ariana “is in the vicinity where Somali pirates have operated in the past,” he added. The attack took place around 5:30 a.m. local Seychelles time today.

The East Africa Seafarers’ Assistance Program confirmed that the bulk carrier had been boarded.

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