EU maritime force is tracking a Bangladesh-flagged ship captured by pirates off the Somali coast.

The EU’s maritime security force reported that pirates have seized the 23 crew members of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia. An EU vessel is currently tracking the hijacked ship as it moves towards the shore. The MV Abdullah was hijacked approximately 700 miles east of Mogadishu, with the crew being taken hostage by pirates. The ship is owned by Bangladeshi company SR Shipping Lines and was en route from Maputo to the United Arab Emirates when it was seized by armed assailants.

A vessel from the EU participating in Operation ATALANTA is currently “shadowing” the cargo carrier, as stated by the EU force in a statement. The crew is reported to be safe, and the situation is still ongoing as the ship heads towards the Somali coast. Piracy off the Somali coast had diminished after a peak in 2011, but concerns about new attacks have grown in recent months. In December, at least two incidents were reported, including the hijacking of a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea.

The waters off Somalia saw a peak in piracy in 2011, with over 160 attacks recorded. The incidents declined drastically afterward, largely due to the presence of American and allied navies in international waters. However, recent events have raised concerns about a resurgence in piracy activities in the region, with the hijacking of the MV Abdullah being the latest incident.

Source .