Danish naval forces have killed four pirates during a firefight off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea.
Esbern Snare, a Danish frigate, came under fire in an incident yesterday, reports the Armed Forces, the Danish armed forces.
In the event of a recurring fire, five of the assailants were hit – four fatally. No sailors on the Esbern Snare were injured.
Did not heed warning
Before the firefight broke out, the frigate sent a Seahawk helicopter to warn a “suspicious-looking” motorboat of eight passengers.
However, residents did not follow the warnings.
Danish staff also noted that the boat carried equipment that was generally used by pirates.
Frogman Corps involved
The firefight began when Esbern Snare fired warning shots and the pirates returned fire directly at the frigate.
It is believed that the Frรธmand Corps was involved in the firefight and that they ended up boarding the pirates’ vessel.
The motorboat sank after the firefight, and the four remaining occupants were taken aboard the Esbern Snare.
The most dangerous sea passage in the world
An inter-ministerial group must now assess whether the actions of the Danish staff complied with strict practice.
Esbern Snare has been deployed to the Gulf of Guinea due to increased piracy in the region. Last year, there were an unprecedented 130 hijackings in the area – 95 percent of the global total.
At any given time, there are 30-40 Danish-operated ships in the Gulf of Guinea.
Source: The Nordic Page