Pirates hijack fishing boat with 36 crew members

The ship Alakrana sent out distress signals advising of a pirate attack and since then its owner has not been able to communicate with it, said Echebastar Fleet, the firm that owns the ship.

Two planes from Luxembourg, taking part in an EU anti-piracy flotilla, flew over the ship and saw armed people aboard, said Pilar Unzalu, the Basque region's fisheries and agriculture minister. Unzalu said she had no indication that anyone among the crew was hurt in the hijacking.

The Alakrana is based in the Basque port of Bermeo.

The ship was 415 miles (670 kilometers) from the Seychelles islands, Unzalu said. Company executives were headed for the Spanish Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Echebastar Fleet said.

A company official speaking on condition of anonymity said she did not know if a ransom demand has been made.

The Spanish government has begun to contact families of crew members and formed a crisis committee made up of members of the foreign affairs, defense, environment and other ministries.

It was the second attack in less than a month against the Alakrana. On September 4, while operating in waters off the Seychelles, the vessel dodged an attack by taking evasive action, the owner said; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.