Five Somalian pirates handed over to Netherlands for trial
11:55, 11 February 2009
THE HAGUE. February 11. KAZINFORM The five Somalian pirates who tried to seize a Dutch ship in the Gulf of Aden early last month have been handed over to the Netherlands where they will stand trial, the Dutch Prosecutor?s Office said on Tuesday.
On January 2 the crew of the Samanyulo, a cargo vessel registered in the Netherlands-Antilles, beat back an attack by Somalian pirates, who had to jump overboard. The pirates were later picked up by the crew of a Danish naval ship, which also sunk the attackers? boat; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.
According to the Dutch prosecutor?s office the suspects will face the Rotterdam district court on Wednesday. It is going to be one of the first trials of Somalian pirates, who began to pose a real threat to the safety of shipping in the Gulf of Aden of late. In 2008 there were over 100 attacks against merchant ships by pirates there.