Pirates' hostages freed: Navy rescues fishermen after three months in captivity

Published on 16/02/2011 18:00

British sailors have freed five hostages who were held captive by Somali pirates, above, for three months.

A naval boarding party from HMS Cornwall discovered the Yemeni hostages after searching the pirates' sailing boat in the Indian Ocean, the Ministry of Defence said.

The boarding crew also found and destroyed weapons, pictured right, including rocket-propelled grenades, and three skiffs used to launch attacks.

HMS Cornwall's commanding officer, Commander David Wilkinson, said: "Our presence in the area has had a hugely significant effect on the lives of five Yemeni fishermen, who have been freed from over three months of pirate captivity and can now return to their families.

"In addition we have restored a merchant vessel to legitimate use on the high seas and my team has conducted a very slick boarding operation which has ensured that this pirate vessel is no longer able to operate. This demonstrates the reassurance and security offered by the presence in these waters of HMS Cornwall and other warships from Combined Maritime Forces."

HMS Cornwall was alerted by a South Korean merchant vessel which spotted the Somali dhow acting suspiciously.

The British frigate arrived at the scene with a boarding team supported overhead by a Lynx helicopter.