Somali pirates have seized an Iranian fishing vessel carrying 23 people, the European Union’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) said, warning that the ship was approaching a commercial shipping lane and could become a floating base for further attacks.
The Azini was hijacked on Thursday between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia, a maritime security officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force said on Sunday.
The officer said that 12 pirates seized the vessel, which was carrying 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to speak with the media.