You might think that piracy is rare, but not so rare off Somalia. While the world focuses on the events surrounding the Maersk Alabama's captain, France meanwhile freed hostages held by other pirates on a French yacht, but not without a cost.
The yacht, the Tanit, was seized by pirates last Saturday. On Friday, the navy stormed the yacht. In the process, one hostage and two pirates were killed. The four remaining hostages, including one child, were freed; three other pirates were captured.
This was the third time the French have freed hostages from the hands of pirates but the first time that a hostage had been killed. France refuses to accept acts of piracy and will intervene if a vessel begins moving toward the coast of Somalia.
A statement reads:
“Negotiations were started to persuade the pirates to give up their criminal undertaking. Today, threats were more precise, with the pirates refusing proposals and the Tanit moving toward the coast. An operation to free the hostages was decided.”
A total of 14 vessels and about 200 crew members are currently still under the control of pirates.
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