Nato ship seizes explosives from suspected pirates

A Portuguese warship has seized explosives from suspected Somali pirates after thwarting an attack on a Norwegian oil tanker, a Nato spokesman said today.

Lt Cmdr Alexandre Santos Fernandes said it was the first time Nato forces found pirates armed with raw explosives.

He said the sticks of dynamite were destroyed along with four automatic rifles and nine rocket propelled grenades.

Such explosives can be used for demolition and blasting through walls.

They were seized after a helicopter from the Portuguese frigate the Corte-Real stopped an attack on the Norwegian-owned MV Kition on Friday.

Fernandes said today the 19 suspected pirates were released because they had not attacked Portuguese property or citizens.