Italian warship arrests 9 pirates off Somalia

An Italian warship arrested nine pirates after helping a U.S.-flagged container vessel and another ship evade brigands off the coast of Somalia on Friday, a naval spokesman said.

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An Italian warship arrested nine pirates after helping a U.S.-flagged container vessel and another ship evade brigands off the coast of Somalia on Friday, a naval spokesman said. An Italian naval spokesman said sailors onboard the warship Maestrale captured the nine pirates in the Gulf of Aden after they fired on the Maria K, a ship from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The pirates tried to flee in their skiff but stopped after warning shots were fired from the helicopter, the spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with defense department regulations. The nine pirates were taken aboard the Maestrale and Italy's navy is now awaiting instructions from authorities in Rome on what is to happen to the prisoners.