A commercial ship sailing under the flag of Malta has reportedly been hijacked by Somali pirates, according to the European Union’s anti-piracy forces.
If officially confirmed, it would be the first commercial ship hijacking by Somali pirates since 2017.
Spain’s EUNAVFOR joint operations center said it had received a warning about a ship attacked by pirates, the Ruen, which was sailing about 500 nautical miles east of Socotra Island.
One of the men who used to be part of the group organizing the attacks on the ships, told the Reuters news agency that he heard that the pirates managed to seize a ship.
“Six of my pirate friends managed to capture a ship and will bring it to the shores of the eastern region of Puntland,” Mukhtar Mohamud said while in Qandala.
He did not mention the name of this ship, and there is no news from Puntland authorities.
The Union Coast Guard mission said the Spanish warship Victoria was sent to the area to gather more information about the attack on the ship.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said it believed the Ruen had been hijacked by pirates.
Earlier on Friday, Britain’s maritime agency UKMTO said it had received a report from a ship patrol officer who believed the crew was no longer in control of the ship.
The vessel was last seen traveling in international waters, en route to Somalia, according to LSEG vessel tracking data.