Somali Pirates on Hijacking Spree, Capture 5 Ships

Somali pirates operating in the Indian ocean are on a hijacking binge, reports the BBC, capturing 5 vessels since Saturday, including a British cargo ship this morning in the Gulf of Aden. AFP reports. The pirates are venturing further afield to avoid the increased international naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, Reuters reports.  

The vessels believed to have been hijacked over the weekend include a German container vessel, a French yacht with four crew aboard, a Taiwanese fishing vessel, and a Yemeni tugboat. The French yacht was being sailed toward Somalia's Puntland Coast, according to an agency that monitors piracy in the region.
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