Pirates kill five crew on tanker off Somalia before rescue

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Pirates killed five crew members aboard the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 before Puntland security forces rescued the vessel off Somalia’s coast, the semi-autonomous state’s information ministry said on Tuesday.

Three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian were killed before the rescue operation began, the ministry said. Four other crew members, three Pakistanis and one Indian, were wounded.

Security forces freed the Palau-flagged tanker, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, and captured 16 suspected pirates, the ministry said. Puntland state television reported the suspects would be brought before a court.

The Puntland Maritime Police Force said the vessel was safe and under government control, and that efforts were continuing to locate others involved in the hijacking.

Seized April 21

Pirates seized the tanker on April 21, about 30 nautical miles off Puntland’s coast, according to media reports. It had 17 crew on board, including 10 Pakistani nationals, and the hijacking prompted concern in Pakistan over their safety.

Second rescue in a week

The operation followed one last week in which Puntland forces freed the tanker Sibu 1, a vessel under U.S. sanctions that pirates hijacked in August.

Of 41 suspected pirates arres’ted in that operation, 28 later escaped while being transferred to jail. Several Puntland security officials have accused local police of complicity in the escape.

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