The Somali pirate attack on the Panamanian-flagged MV Almezaan, shown in this undated photo, occurred off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday, and comes at a time when increasing numbers of commercial ships are hiring private armed security units. EU NAVFOR/AFP/NewscomCommercial Ship Strikes Back In Deadly Shootout With Somali Pirates -- Christian Science Monitor
The attack by Somali pirates on the MV Almezaan Tuesday, in which one pirate was killed, highlights how more commercial ships are hiring private armed security groups for protection.
Private security guards protecting a commercial ship shot dead a Somali pirate Tuesday, the first recorded incident of its kind.
The pirate attack on the Panamanian-flagged MV Almezaan occurred off the coast of Somalia, and comes at a time when increasing numbers of commercial ships are hiring private armed security units to protect them during their passage through the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. While US and French Navy crews have killed Somali pirates before during hostage rescues on the high seas, today's shooting shows that the Somali piracy problem is potentially growing more violent.
Read more ....
More News On A Shootout Between Somali Pirates And A Commercial Ship
Private guards kill Somali pirate for first time -- AP
Somali pirate killed in cargo ship hijack shooting -- Reuters
In First, Private Guards Kill Somali Pirate -- New York Times
'Guns for hire' kill pirate during attempted hijack off Somalia -- The Telegraph
Security guards shoot dead Somali pirate in attack on MV Almezaan cargo ship -- Times Online
Shoot Out on High Seas -- FOX News
Mercs vs. Pirates: Deadly Shootout on the High Seas -- Danger Room
Somali pirates broaden attacks -- Al Jazeera
My Comment: This is a turning point. The Somali pirates are now realizing that there is a potential cost for their criminality .... if this happens a few more times I will expect these pirates to start rationalizing if they should do this or not.