US Navy exchanges gunfire with suspected pirates

Two US Navy ships exchanged gunfire with suspected pirates today off the coast of Somalia, killing one suspect and wounding five others, the navy said.

The early morning gun battle ensued after sailors spotted the suspect 30ft-long fishing boat towing smaller skiffs and prepared for a routine boarding, said Lt Cmdr Charlie Brown, spokesman for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Passengers on the fishing boat began shooting and naval gunners on the American ships returned fire with mounted machine guns.