Spanish Naval Ship Battles Pirates Off Somalia

Spanish officials are reporting a pirate attack on a Spanish navy warship off of Somalia. Guns were drawn during this attack, leaving one dead and prompting a helicopter chase resulting in the arrest of six attackers.

The pirates did eventually surrender as the helicopter pursuing them caught up with their boat.

The Defense Ministry believes that the pirates could have mistaken the 540-foot Patino for a freighter. The ship, however, is a support and combat vessel and is part of an EU fleet battling piracy in the Indian Ocean. Ministry officials can also confirm that a hostage was killed in this incident, and his body was thrown overboard.