Royal Navy Arrests Seven Suspected Pirates in Indian Ocean

After helping a Spanish fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean, the Royal Navy has arrested 7 suspected pirates between Somalia and the Seychelles, according to the Ministry of Defence. Royal Auxiliary Fleet Ship Fort Victoria had Royal Marines onboard.

The ship’s navy helicopter shot at two suspected pirate vessels and was later searched. The apprehended suspects will stand trial in the Seychelles under a memorandum of understanding signed with the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Defence is reporting that they had received information about the attack north of their location and launched its helicopter to investigate. The suspect vessels were identified and the shots began as one of the vessels started to speed away ignoring orders to stop. No one was injured.

British-flagged ships now carry armed guards to protect them from piracy.