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| US crew seized by Somali pirates | US crew seized by Somali pirates |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Somali pirates have hijacked a ship with at least 20 US crew on board, after what maritime officials described as a sustained night-time attack. | Somali pirates have hijacked a ship with at least 20 US crew on board, after what maritime officials described as a sustained night-time attack. |
| The US-operated container vessel, Maersk Alabama, was seized in the Indian Ocean about 400 miles (645km) east of the capital, Mogadishu. | The US-operated container vessel, Maersk Alabama, was seized in the Indian Ocean about 400 miles (645km) east of the capital, Mogadishu. |
| The Danish-owned ship's crew members are believed to be safe, the European Union's maritime security force said. | The Danish-owned ship's crew members are believed to be safe, the European Union's maritime security force said. |
| It is the sixth seizure in recent days, including a British and Taiwanese ship. | It is the sixth seizure in recent days, including a British and Taiwanese ship. |
| Among the cargo of the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama was UN food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda. | Among the cargo of the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama was UN food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda. |
| In Washington, the White House said it was closely monitoring the situation and assessing what steps to take. | |
| Evasive action | Evasive action |
| Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m). | Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m). |
| The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden. | The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden. |
| Now the weather has improved, they're back in business again ICG's Rashid Abdi The lure of easy money Why are pirates getting away? | Now the weather has improved, they're back in business again ICG's Rashid Abdi The lure of easy money Why are pirates getting away? |
| But the BBC's Adam Mynott says the pirates have responded in the past few weeks by switching the focus of their attacks further out into the Indian Ocean. | But the BBC's Adam Mynott says the pirates have responded in the past few weeks by switching the focus of their attacks further out into the Indian Ocean. |
| In a statement, the AP Moller-Maersk Group confirmed its ship had been "attacked by pirates and presumed hijacked" at around 0600 BST on Wednesday. | In a statement, the AP Moller-Maersk Group confirmed its ship had been "attacked by pirates and presumed hijacked" at around 0600 BST on Wednesday. |
| "The vessel is deployed in Maersk Line's East Africa service network and was en route to Mombasa, when it was attacked approximately 500km off the Somalia coast," the statement said. | "The vessel is deployed in Maersk Line's East Africa service network and was en route to Mombasa, when it was attacked approximately 500km off the Somalia coast," the statement said. |
| "Our initial concern is to ensure proper support of the crew and assistance to their families." | "Our initial concern is to ensure proper support of the crew and assistance to their families." |
| The ship was attacked by several small boats, with the incident apparently lasting for about five hours. | The ship was attacked by several small boats, with the incident apparently lasting for about five hours. |
| Maritime officials say the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. | Maritime officials say the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. |
| Al-Qaeda connections | Al-Qaeda connections |
| It is believed to be the first ship with Americans on board to be hijacked in recent times. | It is believed to be the first ship with Americans on board to be hijacked in recent times. |
| The BBC's correspondent in the region, Peter Greste, says hostages from previous pirate attacks have been largely well-treated, but the capture of Americans may change the equation. | The BBC's correspondent in the region, Peter Greste, says hostages from previous pirate attacks have been largely well-treated, but the capture of Americans may change the equation. |
| Somalia is largely under the control of a group with links to al-Qaeda, our correspondent says, and they may choose to make a political point out the situation. | Somalia is largely under the control of a group with links to al-Qaeda, our correspondent says, and they may choose to make a political point out the situation. |
| A US Navy official told the Associated Press that the government is in contact with the shipping firm, finding out all the details of the attack. | A US Navy official told the Associated Press that the government is in contact with the shipping firm, finding out all the details of the attack. |
| Earlier this week pirates boarded a British-owned ship, the Malaspina Castle, in an area heavily patrolled by a European Union taskforce. | Earlier this week pirates boarded a British-owned ship, the Malaspina Castle, in an area heavily patrolled by a European Union taskforce. |
| The taskforce, consisting of six ships and two planes, is among almost a dozen anti-piracy patrols in the area. | The taskforce, consisting of six ships and two planes, is among almost a dozen anti-piracy patrols in the area. |
| But pirates managed to seize 15 ships last month - a large increase on the two taken in January and February. | But pirates managed to seize 15 ships last month - a large increase on the two taken in January and February. |
| One expert believes the weather had a bigger impact than the patrols on the pirates. | One expert believes the weather had a bigger impact than the patrols on the pirates. |
| Rashid Abdi, of the International Crisis Group (ICG), a Brussels-based think tank, said: "It was all down to the fact that the weather did not favour them. | Rashid Abdi, of the International Crisis Group (ICG), a Brussels-based think tank, said: "It was all down to the fact that the weather did not favour them. |
| "And now the weather has improved, they're back in business again." | "And now the weather has improved, they're back in business again." |
| More than 130 pirates attacks, including close to 50 successful hijackings, were reported in 2008, threatening one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. | More than 130 pirates attacks, including close to 50 successful hijackings, were reported in 2008, threatening one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. |
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