Somalia: EU is striking back at Somali pirates

(SomaliNet)Armed pirates have ruled the waves around the Somali coast in recent months, capturing ships for ransom and terrorizing the hostage crews. But their days may be numbered, reports Bild.de.

According to media reports, the EU is striking back with force of its own - including deep sea divers, who recently raided two pirate ships in the Gulf of Aden.

The force has been deployed in response to the increased threat Somali pirates have posed to EU vessels, such as the recent hijacking the German freighter BBC Trinidad.

Divers were deployed from the Danish warship Absalon, the base for the operation. It did not take long for the force to seize numerous automatic firearms and bazookas, weapons commonly used by the pirates.

According to the German newspaper Rheinische Post, Spain has also joined the fight against pirates in the waters off the Somali coast.

A reconnaissance aircraft and 90 soldiers were sent to an area near the Somali border in the country of Djibouti. The force has identified 23 pirate dens thus far and estimated a presence of approximately 1 000 men.-Sapa