Turkish and Somali forces have freed the cargo ship M/V LUTUF from pirates, the Federal Government of Somalia announced today. The ship was carrying weapons and military equipment destined for a Turkish facility in Mogadishu.
The Somali Ministry of Defence said the operation to free the ship lasted 10 days. Four pirate boats were destroyed and 14 pirates were killed. The pirates had hijacked the ship on August 17 near the waters off Eyl district in the Nugaal region.
The ministry said constant pressure from the forces forced the remaining pirates to abandon the ship, which has now resumed its journey. M/V LUTUF flies the flag of Cameroon and is owned by Polar Movement Shipping.
At the time of the hijacking, the ship was heading to Mogadishu carrying Turkish weapons, communication devices, and satellite-related equipment. A Somali official familiar with the incident told the AP news agency that the cargo was intended for the Turkish military training centre TURKSOM in Mogadishu.
There were 10 crew members on board: six Indians, one Turk, one Georgian, and two Serbians who served as armed guards. The Ministry of Defence condemned piracy as a serious crime with harsh penalties and warned those involved, supporting, or facilitating such acts.
