NATO Thwarts Pirate Attack Off Somalia

BRUSSELS — Pirates tried to hijack a Singaporean freighter off Somalia on Monday, but they were chased down and captured by a NATO warship, the alliance said.

The MV Maersk Phoenix freighter issued an emergency call when it was attacked by the pirates, who were armed with AK-47 automatic rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, NATO said.

The alliance's Portuguese warship Corte-Real gave chase and captured the pirates and their small boat, which also contained two ladders. NATO confiscated the vessel and the weapons, but freed the eight pirates after consultations with Portuguese authorities.

No casualties were reported among the pirates or the crew of the freighter off the Somali port of Bossaso.

Many nations are wary of hauling in pirates for trial for fear of being saddled with them after they serve out prison terms. There is talk of setting up a special piracy tribunal there akin to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Somalia has long been a lawless, war-torn country, and the waters off its coast are now the world's worst piracy hotspot.