GAROWE (KAAB TV) – The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has received a report confirming that a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier fell prey to suspected Somali pirates on Thursday, southeast of Eyl, a coastal town in the Nugaal region of Somalia’s Puntland State.
Local officials in Eyl reported that armed individuals successfully seized control of the vessel, emphasizing that, fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. However, apprehensions persist regarding the safety of the crew members on board.
Both UKMTO and the British maritime security firm Ambrey independently verified the incident, with UKMTO stating that it received information indicating that five to six unauthorized armed individuals had boarded the merchant vessel.
According to Ambrey’s statement, the vessel was en route to Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain.
Despite the pirates refraining from communicating with the media, local sources have previously noted a growing presence of armed individuals in the coastal areas of Mudug and Nugaal.
Puntland security officials express suspicion that Al-Shabaab may be involved in supporting the pirates through funding, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing situation.