Danish, Chinese navies deter suspected pirates

[unhappycamper]

Danish, Chinese navies deter suspected pirates
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 26, 2009 16:44:05 EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Danish and Chinese warships stopped pirates attacking two different vessels off Somalia’s coast, according to reports Thursday.

In one of the incidents, the Danish ship HDMS Absalon received a distress signal Wednesday from a Chinese vessel, the Yandanghai, said Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet. The Chinese crew of the merchant ship were fending off the pirates using their fire hoses, Campbell said.

When Danish sailors arrived at the scene, they found a skiff with seven suspected pirates, armed with a rocket-propelled grenade, four AK-47 assault rifles, two grenades and a knife.

Suspected pirates were disarmed, but not detained, Campbell said.

The Absalon is part of a U.S.-led task force set up last month to combat piracy along the lawless coast of Somalia, where attacks on shipping skyrocketed last year.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_pirates_somalia_022609/%2e