French open fire on pirates in fishing boat attack

Published on Saturday 10 October 2009 19:58

FRENCH soldiers opened fire to chase off pirates who launched an attack on two fishing boats in the Indian Ocean yesterday, France's military said.

Soldiers stationed aboard two French tuna trawlers tried to warn off the pirates, but once they used their weapons the French soldiers returned fire, said French military spokesman Rear Admiral Christophe Prazuck.

All those aboard the French boats were unharmed, but it was not clear if any pirates were injured, he said.

France's government has been stationing military escorts aboard French fishing boats off East Africa since July to protect them from pirates active in the region. Yesterday was the first time soldiers used their weapons in such operations, Prazuck said.

The two tuna trawlers, the Drennec and Glenan, were heading toward Mahe, the largest island in the Seychelles, after a fishing trip. The pirates approached at sunrise, when they were about 190 miles north of the island group.

France is a key member of the EU's naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. It has tracked and caught suspected pirates, handing at least 22 to Kenya. An additional 15 suspects were brought to France for prosecution after allegedly seizing boats belonging to French nationals.