The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) has confirmed the hijacking of a Yemeni fishing boat off the Horn of Africa over the weekend.
Confirming the incident on Monday, EUNAVFOR Atalanta released a statement claiming, “We were informed of a suspected piracy-related incident involving a Yemeni-flagged dhow* off Durdura, in the vicinity of Eyl, on the northern coast of Puntland, Somalia.”
“The incident is under investigation and has been classified as a hijacking**. According to the latest information, up to seven hijackers remain on board. The dhow has a crew of eight Somali nationals,” the statement further read.
Suspected Somali pirates have been linked to the incident, which is the third attack in recent weeks, authorities said on Monday.
EUNAVFOR Atalanta stated that the pirates targeted the vessel on Sunday off the town of Eyl in Somalia. It identified the vessel as a Yemeni-flagged dhow, a traditional ship commonly used in the waters of the Middle East.
The statement also noted that some seven hijackers remain on board the dhow, which has a crew of eight Somalis.
In February, pirates seized a dhow called the Saytuun-2. That February 17 attack came just days after another pirate attack on a different Yemeni fishing boat, which ended with the pirates fleeing and the mariners on board being recovered unharmed.
According to initial reports, up to seven hijackers remain on board the dhow, which has a crew of eight Somali nationals.
