A boat belonging to Somali pirates goes up in a ball of flame after being destroyed by British commandos in the Indian Ocean.

The swoop by Royal Marines off the coast of Africa is part of the continuing battle to make safe shipping lanes off the coast of Africa.

It comes less than a week after Britons Paul and Rachel Chandler were released by Somali pirates, who kidnapped them 13 months ago.

Many other hostages, who have not had ransoms paid, are still held in captivity.

The Marines found this boat packed with ammunition which they believe was intended for hijacks.  The pirate crew was later released on the Somali coast.

The operation was led by Corporal Michael Murray, 28, who was on duty on the Fort Victoria – part of the Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Cpl Murray and his team scrambled launches to tackle the pirates, who they found without food and using a makeshift sail after losing engine power. They threw their weapons overboard and surrendered.

NATO forces have been stationed off the Horn of Africa since December 2008 and have been fired upon by pirates.

Cpl Murray, from Oldham, said: ‘In this part of the world there is always the chance that you’re going to encounter pirate vessels, and this one was a few miles from the ship.

‘From the alert going out we had 20 minutes to prepare and get ready to go.We were told it was a whaler, which is the kind of boat that pirates often use in the Indian Ocean.

‘We approached with our fast boats and were ready for any exchange of fire. Fortunately they didn’t offer any resistance. ‘They put their hands up and we were able to come alongside and carry out a search, during which we found ammunition.’

Captain Rob Dorey, Commanding Officer of the Fort Victoria, said: ‘The combined actions of all on board have saved merchant ships from being pirated and made the area just a little safer. In many ways the pirates were lucky that we found them as they would not have survived indefinitely.

‘However, most importantly, we have removed one more pirate group from the Somali Basin and destroyed their whaler so it cannot be used again.’

Mr Chandler, 60, a retired civil engineer, and his economist wife, 57, from Tunbridge Wells, were captured on their yacht, Lynn Rival, as they sailed from the Seychelles to Tanzania.

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Daily Mail

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