UK forces storm hijacked Italian ship, free crew including Indians

PTI | Oct 11, 2011, 07.40PM IST

The 11 Somali pirates who hijacked the Montecristo have all been arrested.

LONDON: In a dramatic raid, British special forces stormed an Italian cargo ship and freed 23 crew members including six Indians that was hijacked by Somali pirates on Monday. 

The raid was confirmed by Italian defence ministry spokesman. 

The 11 pirates who hijacked the Montecristo have all been arrested, Italian news agency ANSA said quoting sources. 

However, more details of the raid is awaited. The ship had a 23-member crew, including six Indians besides those from Italy and Ukraine. 

The 56,000-tonne bulk carrier 'Montecristo' was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia on Monday by five pirates in a small boat, according to the owners. 

According to the Italian-based firm which manages the ship, Dalmare Spa, the vessel was carrying a consignment of iron materials. 

The Italian defence minister said the crew aboard the D'Alessio Group-owned cargo ship were doing well. 

The ship had set off from the port of Liverpool and was understood to be en route to Vietnam. 

Media reports said that as soon as the Italian ship left the escort of a Japanese naval vessel and entered the Indian Ocean it came under attack from the pirates.

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