The Esbern Share, a Danish warship patrolling off the coast of Somalia, killed four suspected pirates and wounded 10 in a shootout Thursday. Sixteen Iranian hostages who were on board were freed, the Royal Navy said on its website. No one on board the Danish ship Esbern Snare was hurt, and the hostages were also not injured, CNN reported.
“When Esbern Snare tried to stop the mother ship with calls, the mother ship opened fire on Esbern Snare, which immediately returned fire,” the statement said.
After the firefight, the crew could see weapons being thrown overboard from the suspected mother ship, and “there were signs of the pirates surrendering,” the statement said. The crew then took control of the ship.
The 10 injured pirates were being treated onboard the Esbern Snare, the Royal Navy said. The four suspected pirates who were killed were buried at sea “in accordance with NATO procedures with regards to Muslim traditions.”
All the suspected pirates were being held onboard the Esbern Snare while Danish authorities looked into possible prosecution, the Navy said.
“When Esbern Snare tried to stop the mother ship with calls, the mother ship opened fire on Esbern Snare, which immediately returned fire,” the statement said.
After the firefight, the crew could see weapons being thrown overboard from the suspected mother ship, and “there were signs of the pirates surrendering,” the statement said. The crew then took control of the ship.
The 10 injured pirates were being treated onboard the Esbern Snare, the Royal Navy said. The four suspected pirates who were killed were buried at sea “in accordance with NATO procedures with regards to Muslim traditions.”
All the suspected pirates were being held onboard the Esbern Snare while Danish authorities looked into possible prosecution, the Navy said.