Indian navy destroys pirate ship; more vessels seized

MOGADISHU: An Indian warship destroyed a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden as gunmen from Somalia seized at least two more vessels despite a large international naval presence off their lawless country.

The Indian navy said the pirates fired on the INS Tabar after the officers asked it to stop to be searched. Indian forces fired back, destroying the ship, and then chased one of the speed boats, which was later found abandoned. The other escaped, according to a navy statement.

The explosion of piracy off Somalia this year has driven up insurance costs, made some shipping companies divert around South Africa and prompted an unprecedented military response from NATO, the European Union and others.