Navy destroys East African pirate boats

A Royal Navy crew has destroyed two suspected pirate boats off the east coast of Africa.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2010, 23:34 BST
Updated 18th May 2010, 23:34 BST

A Lynx helicopter from warship HMS Chatham spotted a larger vessel towing two smaller attack boats 150 miles off the coast of Tanzania, in the Somali Basin, on Friday.

A Royal Marine team, travelling in fast-boats, stormed the larger craft as 10 Somalis threw their weapons overboard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The two smaller attack boats were fitted with powerful engines and contained a considerable amount of fuel.

The marines separated the smaller boats from the larger craft, before HMS Chatham and the Lynx helicopter blew them up. The 10 Somalis were left with only enough fuel to go home.

Commander Simon Huntington said: "I am extremely pleased that we have again successfully disrupted a suspected pirate attack group operating in the Somali Basin and prevented them from mounting attacks against merchant shipping."

Related topics:Royal NavyAfrica