Somali Pirates Hijack Iranian Fishing Vessel Off Northeast Coast

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, European Union naval forces and security sources in Puntland have confirmed that armed pirates have taken control of an Iranian fishing vessel off the northeastern coast of Somalia.

The fishing boat, identified as the ‘Azini’, was intercepted at 09:00 UTC on October 29th. The incident occurred off the coast of Somalia, situated between the coastal towns of Bandar Beila and Hafun within the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, according to a warning issued by the EU Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

Agence France-Presse, citing Puntland security officials, reported that the attack was carried out by eight armed individuals operating from a remote coastal area near Bandar Beila. A security official stated that two Somali guards were on board the vessel, but the attackers outnumbered and overwhelmed them. The fishing boat was reportedly engaged in fishing activities close to the shore, making it vulnerable to the hijacking.

Another security source indicated that, in addition to the two Somali guards, the vessel carried 21 crew members. However, the EU Maritime Security Centre (MSCHOA) did not provide the exact number of individuals on board and described their safety status as ‘uncertain’.

Security officials further reported that an additional four armed individuals boarded the vessel later, bringing the total number of pirates on board to twelve.