Somali pirates seize cargo ship with 24 crew

The EU’s piracy task force says Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship with 22 Syrians and two Egyptians onboard, the EU’s piracy task force said today.

The MV Syria Star was seized as it sailed in the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of sugar, the taskforce said in a statement.

The EU said it dispatched helicopters immediately after the St Vincent and Grenadines-flagged ship said yesterday that pirates were onboard and fired shots at the crew.

Helicopters found an abandoned skiff containing fuel and ammunition.

The EU said the ship is headed toward Somalia and has refused to respond to radio contact.

Pirates are holding at least 17 ships and hundreds of crew members.