Pirates Hijack Chinese Fishing Vessel in Somali Waters

EUNAVFOR Atalanta, the EU mission tasked with monitoring security off the Horn of Africa, has confirmed that armed pirates have boarded a Chinese fishing vessel in Somali waters. The incident is being classified as an armed robbery at sea due to the vessel’s proximity to the coast, constituting a case of piracy within territorial waters. The Puntland region’s local police force in Somalia alerted the EU operation about the possible hijacking of the Chinese fishing vessel, which reportedly has up to 18 individuals on board. Atalanta has deployed assets to monitor the vessel off the northeast coast of Somalia, gathering information and developing situational awareness.

The EU operation has verified that the alleged pirates have taken control of the fishing vessel, with some of them armed with AK-47s and machine guns. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries thus far. Atalanta is in communication with both Somali and Chinese authorities and is maintaining a presence near the hijacked fishing boat. The mission had previously warned of a moderate threat level, which was expected to increase following the end of the monsoon season, urging vessels to remain vigilant due to the heightened piracy threats in the region.

After a period of relative stability, Somalia pirates have reportedly resumed their attacks on merchant vessels, possibly emboldened by the unsettled conditions in the area. Atalanta’s data indicates that multiple vessels have been boarded or hijacked, with numerous other instances of suspicious activity or attempted approaches reported. The mission had issued a warning in late October regarding a pirate group leaving Somalia, and although initial suspicious activity was observed near a Chinese vessel, the specific warning was later retracted when no further incidents occurred.

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