Somalia pirates mistake warship for victim

A gang of Somali pirates lost two of their boats after mistakenly attacking a Dutch warship today.

Two small skiffs approached the Tromp off the coast of East Africa and were met with warning shots from the vessel, part of the EU Naval Force in the area.

After the pirates realised they had made what spokesman called a “rather silly mistake,” they turned around and fled, a force spokesman said.

Ships tracked down the two skiffs and a third suspected mothership, finding ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades on board.

The skiffs were destroyed and the pirates were set free on the mothership after it had been cleared of weapons.

“This morning’s attack may show a lack of sophistication in the pirate’s selection of targets, but it should be a warning to the merchant community that the pirates will try to attack any vessel on the high seas,” said the spokesman.

The EU Naval Force has disrupted 11 pirate attack groups off the coast of East Africa over the last two weeks as part of a more offensive strategy to stop pirate attacks.

Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an effective government is established in Somalia.