French Bullet Killed Somali Pirate Hostage

Navy intercepted two assault vessels and a 'mothership' today

(AP) - A French naval vessel has intercepted 11 armed pirates off the coast of Somalia, according to a Defense Ministry spokesman, who says the pirates were traveling in two assault vessels and a so-called "mothership" loaded with provisions, Kalashnikovs, rockets, and rocket launchers. He says all 11 are Somali nationals. More»

(AP) - French forces launched an attack on a 30-foot-long pirate "mother ship" early today, detaining 11 pirates and thwarting a pirate attack on a Liberian-registered vessel, the AP reports. The pirates are being held aboard the Nivose, a French frigate taking part in a European mission to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden. A French surveillance helicopter spotted the pirates' mother ship yesterday, and it was intercepted 550 miles east of the Kenyan port of Mombasa. More»

Operation successfully rescues four others

(NEWSER) - French forces rescued four hostages from a yacht held by pirates off the coast of Somalia, but one hostage was killed during today's operation, the BBC reports. Two couples and a child were on a yacht captured by pirates last week in the Gulf of Aden. The child was among those rescued, French officials said. Although it is near Somalia, the French operation was not thought to be near where a US captain is being held hostage. More»

Nabs dastardly robbers

(NEWSER) - A French warship nabbed a boat full of pirates in the Gulf of Aden today, responding to a distress call from a Panamanian vessel, Reuters reports. The pirates fled when they saw the French ship approach, but they later returned to try their luck with the ship again, and the frigate captured them. “Resistance was impossible when faced by a well-armed warship,” said a French armed forces spokesman. More»

No word on whether ransom changed hands

(NEWSER) - Somali pirates have freed the crew members of the French yacht they commandeered last week, AFP reports. All 30 hostages, including 22 French nationals, were handed over “without incident” in a deal negotiated by the military, Nicolas Sarkozy said. More»