Pirates seize German freight ship

The German army has confirmed that pirates have seized a German freight ship off the coast of Kenya.

The attack comes within 24 hours of the capture of a tanker from Singapore carrying 17 crew members.

Somali pirates have long been active in the region, and are currently holding 19 vessels with 428 hostages.

The Beluga Fortune freight ship was seized this morning about 1,200 miles east of the Kenyan city of Mombasa.

According to reports there is an unknown number of German citizens aboard.