Joke of the Week: Somali pirates target French Navy
Powers of observation may be a bit lacking with Somali pirates. Ya think? Brings to mind a minor quip, ’sucks to be you’. Had to be a large collective ‘oops’ from the pirates upon realizing their error in a recent target selection. But after all it was a ‘French warship’ (okay, refueling vessel) so you can understand the confusion. Do you suppose this story has any effect on the warship deal the French are offering the Russians?
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
French Navy Repels Somali Pirate Attack |
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07 October 2009 |
France says its navy has captured five Somali pirates who attacked a French naval vessel, after apparently mistaking it for a commercial boat.
Military spokesman Christophe Prazuck says pirates on speedboats attacked the La Somme, a refueling ship, off the Somali coast early Wednesday.
He says crew members repelled the attack and then chased the pirates, seizing one boat and taking five men into custody.
French officials say no one was injured in the incident.
France is a key member of Operation Atlanta, the European Union’s anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.
Somali pirates have made tens of millions of dollars over the past two years hijacking ships and holding them for ransom. The number of hijackings has dropped in recent months as foreign navies patrol the coast and provide protection to commercial vessels.