Breaking news on real-world piracy…
Stolen cargo . . . pirates have seized a Ukrainian freighter off Somalia carrying 33 T-72 tanks, similar to those in this photograph.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates in a hijacked ship carrying more than 30 battle tanks were steaming toward a notorious pirate den on Saturday, and they vowed not to release the ship until a $35 million ransom was paid, Somali and Kenyan officials said.
According to Mohamed Osman Aden, a Somali diplomat in Kenya, the Ukrainian-owned vessel was headed to Xarardheere, on the barren Somali coast. Xarardheere is an isolated fishing village that has thrived on organized crime and has frequently been used as a pirate hide-out.
Mr. Mohamed said that while the cargo in this case was extremely unusual — 33 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks and a large supply of ammunition and grenade launchers, all intended for the Kenyan military — the tactics were pretty typical.
“These guys just want the money,” he said.
He predicted that the pirates would reduce their ransom demand to $1 million to $2 million, though Ukrainian officials have not said whether they will pay any ransom at all.
The Kenyan government said in a statement on Saturday that it “does not and will not negotiate with international criminals, pirates and terrorists and will endeavor to recover the hijacked ship and military cargo.”
American warships in the Indian Ocean were closely tracking the ship, and a Russian frigate, the Dauntless, was on its way.
Diplomats in Kenya said Saturday that military operations involving several countries were being discussed but that the plan was to wait a few days before considering a strike.
The hijacked ship’s crew is mostly Ukrainian, and already worried family members have contacted the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry asking what they can do.
The hijacking occurred on Thursday evening when pirates in three speedboats attacked the Ukrainian cargo ship, the Faina, which was in Somali waters about 200 miles from shore, en route to Kenya.
full story at NYT
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