Pirates Attempt To Take Over Japanese Cargo Ship Foiled

The Turkish naval force operating within the international force to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden has foiled pirates attempt to take over a Japanese cargo ship off the Somali coast. The leadership of the Turkish army said in a statement today that the Turkish frigate (Gemlik) yesterday intercepted a boat with seven armed men who were about to attack a Japanese cargo ship while sailing in the waters of the Gulf after transiting the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb.TCG Gemlik F-492The statement added that the frigate sent a special task force to the aid of the Japanese ship after it fired a distress call near the Somali coast, adding that the frogs unit had spotted the gunmen's boat and immediately intercepted it and arrested those who were on board. The statement said that the detainees will be handed over to the international naval force command deployed in the territorial waters of Somalia after investigation. According to the statement, the Turkish naval force last week foiled a similar attempt to take over a cargo ship flying the flag of Panama in the Gulf of Aden and forced the pirates to flee under a hail of fire.