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Somali pirates today told Somalia Report they hijacked an Italian vessel last week and confirmed they brought it back to the Somali coastline, but would not revel the ship's name or details of the crew being held hostage.
Although Somalia Report received information about the incident on Saturday, we can only now confirm the attack since pirates reported the vessel has arrived in Hafun off Somalia's Karkaar region.
“Pirates hijacked the Italian vessel and it arrived in the Hafun area late on Saturday. We don’t know the name of vessel yet or the number of crew,” said Mohamed Ahmed, a pirate based in Bari region.
Another pirate in Bargaal, who spoke to Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed the attack.
"The new hijacked vessel arrived Hafun area late on Saturday. The Italian vessel carrying is carrying between 18 to 20 crew members. We think that it’s carrying chemical materials,” said the pirate.
Local officials also confirmed the incident to Somalia Report.
“An Italian vessel which pirates hijacked arrived in Hafun late on Saturday,” said Abdi-Kuran, the governor of Karkaar region.
Sources added that Isse Yuluh, a well-known pirate commander from Ali-Saleban, Majerten clan, is one of the investors of the group holding the vessel. Residents of Hafun are upset that a number of pirates looking for work arrived Monday night from Eyl, Bandar Bayla, Garacad and Bargal and that the mayor of Hafun has done nothing to stop the influx of unwanted criminals.
NATO, EU NAVFOR nor the Italian embassy in Nairobi, Kenya have yet commented on the incident despite repeated calls from Somalia Report.
Update on MT Enrico Ievoli
Local officials reported that the MT Enrico Ievoli, hijacked on December 27, 2011, is still in the hands of pirates.
“The Italian flagged MT Enrico Ievoli is still in Buqa, which is near Dhinooda, after it was in Eel-dhanaane area and then Hafun area," said Abdikarim Kaytoun, the chairman of Jariban district.