Five Crew Members Killed Before Somali Pirate Rescue, Official Tells BBC
Five crew members died as Puntland forces retook the hijacked tanker.
- Deaths: Five crew members were killed.
- Injuries: Four others were wounded.
- Arrests: 16 suspected pirates detained.
Five crew members aboard an oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia were killed before regional security forces regained control of the vessel, a senior Puntland official has told the BBC.
Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade said the five crew members were killed by pirates before security forces boarded the MT Hoarner 25.
The victims included three Pakistani nationals, one Indian and one national of Myanmar, according to the official. Four other crew members were injured, including three Pakistanis and one Indian.
The tanker, which was carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil destined for Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, was hijacked in April by six armed men while sailing off the Somali coast.
Authorities said 16 suspected pirates have been arrested, while others managed to escape and are being pursued by security forces.
