Mogadishu, Mar 15 (Prensa Latina) Hijackers of the oil tanker Aris 13 demanded a ransom to release the ship, but they keep holding the crew hostage, European Union (EU) sources reported today.
Representatives of the EU mission against piracy in Somalia said that armed men demanded the ransom, a decision about which has not been made, while the EU Naval Force said that finally they contacted the tanker’s captain and he provided them with details of the incident.
The hijack was carried out on Monday and it was the first since 2012 against a civil deep-draft ship off the Somalian coasts.
The United Nations warned in October about the fragility of the situation on the coasts of this country and said Somalian pirates ‘have the intention to continue their attacks.’
An expert explained that some authorities lowered their guard when the panorama in the region became peaceful.
The EU mission sources said the armed men locked most of the tanker crew members in a room and cut all communication lines off.
With eight people from Sri Lanka on board, the Aris 13 was carrying fuel from Yibuti to this cpaital, when the men, on small boats, charged at it, said John Steed, director of the private organization Oceans Beyond Piracy.