Somalia pirates attack Yemeni fishing boat, take engine

[Coeus]

SHABWA, Jan 08 ( Saba) - Somalia pirates have attacked a Yemeni fishing boat off the southeastern province of Shabwa, firing on it and taking its engine, security officials have said.

"About 7 pirates attacked the boat while fishing off Bir Ali. They fired on it but the fisherman, 24, onboard was not hurt," they said, adding that the pirates just took the engine of the boat to use it for carrying out more attacks, and ran away.

In recent years, Somali pirates have stepped up their attacks on Yemeni fishing boats and local, regional and international vessels passing off the country.

Maritime piracy has become lucrative as pirates usually ask for ransom for the release of what they seize.

Hundreds of thousands of anti-piracy forces are patrolling the region, including U.S., EU, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and from other nationalities.