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| New wave of Somali pirate attacks | New wave of Somali pirate attacks |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Somali pirates have hijacked a fourth vessel in 48 hours, seizing a Lebanese-owned cargo ship. | Somali pirates have hijacked a fourth vessel in 48 hours, seizing a Lebanese-owned cargo ship. |
| The 5,000-tonne Togo-flagged MV Sea Horse was taken by gunmen in up to four skiffs, Nato officials said. | The 5,000-tonne Togo-flagged MV Sea Horse was taken by gunmen in up to four skiffs, Nato officials said. |
| Earlier, pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier, the MV Irene, in the Gulf of Aden a day after Somali raiders captured two Egyptian fishing boats. | |
| Analysts say the gangs are clearly not put off by recent US and French hostage rescues that left several bandits dead. | Analysts say the gangs are clearly not put off by recent US and French hostage rescues that left several bandits dead. |
| Somali pirate leaders - who have generally treated captives well in the hope of winning big ransom payouts - vowed on Monday to avenge the deaths. | Somali pirate leaders - who have generally treated captives well in the hope of winning big ransom payouts - vowed on Monday to avenge the deaths. |
| Attacks rise | Attacks rise |
| Nato officials said another ship - the Liberian-flagged Safmarine Asia - escaped on Tuesday after coming under fire from pirates in several small boats. | Nato officials said another ship - the Liberian-flagged Safmarine Asia - escaped on Tuesday after coming under fire from pirates in several small boats. |
| They attacked at night, which was very unusual, they were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes US crew's 'hide-and-seek' Q&A: Somali piracy | They attacked at night, which was very unusual, they were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes US crew's 'hide-and-seek' Q&A: Somali piracy |
| After a lull earlier this year, the gangs have stepped up their attacks off Somalia's coast in recent weeks. | After a lull earlier this year, the gangs have stepped up their attacks off Somalia's coast in recent weeks. |
| The 22 Filipino crew of the MV Irene, which was sailing from Jordan to India, are believed to be unhurt. | |
| A Nato helicopter has reportedly been dispatched from a Canadian warship to investigate what is happening to the merchant vessel, flagged in Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines. | A Nato helicopter has reportedly been dispatched from a Canadian warship to investigate what is happening to the merchant vessel, flagged in Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines. |
| Nato Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes told Reuters news agency: "There was only three minutes between the alarm and the hijack. | Nato Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes told Reuters news agency: "There was only three minutes between the alarm and the hijack. |
| "They attacked at night, which was very unusual. They were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright." | "They attacked at night, which was very unusual. They were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright." |
| Hours later, Nato officials on a Portuguese warship announced the MV Sea Horse had also been seized off Somalia. | Hours later, Nato officials on a Portuguese warship announced the MV Sea Horse had also been seized off Somalia. |
| Maersk Alabama crewman recounts ordeal | Maersk Alabama crewman recounts ordeal |
| It is said to be the tenth hijacking in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean since the start of the month. | It is said to be the tenth hijacking in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean since the start of the month. |
| Last Wednesday, a group of Somali pirates attempted to seize a US-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama, but fled after taking its American captain hostage. | Last Wednesday, a group of Somali pirates attempted to seize a US-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama, but fled after taking its American captain hostage. |
| Following a stand-off with a US warship, three of the raiders were killed by three single shots from US snipers on Sunday and the skipper was freed. | Following a stand-off with a US warship, three of the raiders were killed by three single shots from US snipers on Sunday and the skipper was freed. |
| Capt Richard Phillips and his crew are due to return to the US on Wednesday evening, the ship's owner told AP news agency. | Capt Richard Phillips and his crew are due to return to the US on Wednesday evening, the ship's owner told AP news agency. |
| Maersk Line Limited said they will take a chartered flight from Mombasa to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland where they will be reunited with their loved ones. | Maersk Line Limited said they will take a chartered flight from Mombasa to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland where they will be reunited with their loved ones. |
| 'Peaks and troughs' | |
| US President Barack Obama promised on Monday to "halt the rise of piracy" in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. | US President Barack Obama promised on Monday to "halt the rise of piracy" in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. |
| Cdr Chris Davis, chief public affairs officer for Nato, told the BBC the surge in attacks could be simply down to chance. | |
| "We do see peaks and troughs. Often weather-related and often it's just the situation as it arises and the opportunity - and that's what the pirates are, they are opportunistic." | |
| Last Friday French forces killed two pirates and captured three more while freeing a yacht with five hostages, but the vessel's owner also died in the gunfight. | Last Friday French forces killed two pirates and captured three more while freeing a yacht with five hostages, but the vessel's owner also died in the gunfight. |
| Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to Somali pirates. | Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to Somali pirates. |
| The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. | The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. |
| Efforts to stop the raiders have so far had only limited success, with international naval patrols struggling to cover the vast areas of ocean where the gangs operate. | Efforts to stop the raiders have so far had only limited success, with international naval patrols struggling to cover the vast areas of ocean where the gangs operate. |