Russian sailors captured by Somali pirates

It’s reported that two Russian nationals are among the crew of a tanker seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, just off the African coast. Russia’s Foreign Ministry is trying to confirm the claims.

Fifteen pirates allegedly hijacked the vessel as it was making the voyage from France to India. Sixteen Filipinos and a Croat were also among the crew.

The pirates, travelling in two speedboats, surrounded the tanker before boarding it wielding weapons and forcing the ship to change direction towards the Somali coast.

It's the third ship to have been hijacked in two days.

The International Maritime Bureau has called on the UN Security Council to take serious action.