Pirates Hijack Iranian Vessel in Gulf of Aden
In one of the first successful hijackings of 2012, pirates have attacked and gained control of an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The ship was carrying 30,000 tonnes of petrochemicals to a country in North Africa.
Further details of the attack and subsequent movement of the vessel are currently unknown.
Somalia Report learned that the group of pirates responsible for the hijack are from the Karkar region, and they launched the attack from Hafun. All members of the gangs are from the Majeerteen clan (a sub-clan of Darood).
According to pirates who spoke to Somalia Report, the leader of this group is Bashiir Bootaan Dhowre, a pirate commander from Ali Saleban clan (a sub-claan of Majeerteen).
The capture of the ship has come just a week after the US Navy rescued an Iranian fishing boat from a group of pirates who had held been holding the vessel for a little over a month. The 15 pirates were captured, and the 13 Iranian fishermen released.
On January 3, pirates hijacked Indian-flagged Savina al-Salaam near Bosaso Port, however they released the vessel just two days later without asking for a ransom. The ship was carrying livestock from Bosaso to Oman, and it was reported that the pirate gang were unprepared to deal with the 3,260 heads of livestock onboard.
