Muscat: In a daring attack thought to be the first of its kind, Somalian pirates attacked the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship SPS Infanta Christina - using another ship they had pirated as a shield.
The alleged Somalian pirates launched their attack on SPS Infanta Christina from MV Izumi, a ship they had pirated on October 10, according to Lt. Col Per Klingvall in a written statement sent from the European Union Naval Force Monday.
“The warship was attacked from the East coast of Somalia in the dead of night while the warship was escorting MV Petra 1,” Lt. Col Klingvall wrote.
The MV Petra 1 was chartered by the African Union Military Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), at the time. This is the first ever attack on an EU warship which was in an AMISOM escort.
“During the incident, the Spanish warship increased speed and manoeuvred immediately in order to place herself between MV Izumi and her escort,” he said.
He added that thanks to the quick reactions and efficiency of the Spanish crew, the attack was quickly foiled without injury or damage, and the pirates fled.
Lt. Col Klingvall said the attack was carried out by a pirated merchant vessel with hostages on board.
The SPS Infanta Christina had to defend herself and her escort with minimal force, in order to safeguard the lives of the hostages.
After the attack, the warship and her escort continued toward Mogadishu, Somalia without further incident, he said.
The European Union Naval Force has conducted 86 World Food Programme escorts and 71 escorts for the African Union Military Mission in Somalia since it was launched in December, 2008.
The main tasks of the European Union Naval Force Somalia's Operation Atalanta are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid under the World Food Program and vessels which are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
It must also protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and deter pirates.
The European Union Naval Force also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
