Pirates have hijacked a commercial ship off the coast of Somalia. This was reported by the British maritime safety agency UKMTO. Five or six armed persons entered the ship about 460 nautical miles (more than 850 kilometers) from the Somali city of Eyl. According to the captain, the crew had barricaded themselves in a part of the ship.
More details, such as the origin of the ship, have not been provided, but according to British maritime security company Ambrey it is a Liberian-flagged cargo ship.
The coast off Somalia was a pirate stronghold for years. Since the EU mission Atalanta, which has been combating anti-talk in those parts since 2008, attacks have decreased significantly. Yet, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), another attack took place on December 14. A cargo ship was then hijacked and sent to Somalia.
Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa near the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen. Houthi rebels from that country have targeted ships in the Red Sea several times since the fighting flared up in the Gaza Strip. The rebels are trying to prevent the ships from reaching Israel. The Red Sea is one of the most important shipping lanes for world trade, as it connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal.
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