Pirates capture US cargo ship

Somali pirates hijacked a cargo ship with 21 Americans on board today.

The 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama is the sixth to be seized within a week and the first with an all-American crew.

Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme said the ship was taken about 400 miles from the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

The US Navy confirmed the hijacking. A spokesman said the ship was operated by the Danish company Maersk, which deals with the US Department of Defence.

Maersk Kenya Managing Director Rolf Nielsen said the company was still verifying reports of the hijacking.