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Somali pirates have hijacked an Iranian fishing trawler off the coast of Somalia, taking 23 people hostage, including 21 Iranian fishermen and two Somali security guards, amid fears of further US attacks on Iran.
The vessel, named Azini, was seized by armed pirates at around 12:30pm Iranian local time on Sunday (November 1).
The incident occurred approximately 185 nautical miles east of the Somali port town of Bandar Beyla, according to the European Union’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO).
The centre said no confirmed information was available about the condition or safety of the hostages at the time of its report.
A Puntland Maritime Police official told the Associated Press (AP) that 12 pirates had taken control of the trawler and its 23 crew members.
The official warned that the vessel could be used as a so-called “mother ship” for further pirate attacks because of its size and structure.
Pirates typically use large vessels as mobile bases, launching smaller speedboats to attack commercial ships far from the coast.
According to the MSCIO, the hijacked trawler had moved approximately 110 nautical miles further east following the seizure, bringing it closer to key international shipping lanes.
The centre warned that pirates could use the vessel to launch further hijackings in the area.
Somali piracy has seen a resurgence since April this year. According to AP, pirates hijacked at least six commercial vessels between April and the summer, with some incidents resulting in fatalities.
In September, Puntland security forces launched an operation to rescue the crew of the Honour 25, a hijacked oil tanker. Sixteen suspected pirates were arrested during the operation. However, five hostages had already been killed in an exchange of gunfire with the pirates.
The incident renewed concerns over the safety of seafarers held hostage by Somali pirates.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s naval mission, Operation Atalanta, is investigating the hijacking of the Iranian trawler. Vessels operating in the area have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
