Around the World: Kenya

Pirates seize oil tanker

Somali pirates seized a tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States in the increasingly dangers waters off East Africa, an official said yesterday, an attack that could pose a huge environmental or security threat to the region.

The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus was hijacked on Sunday about 1,300 km off the coast of Somalia, said Commander John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force. Harbour said there were 28 crew members on board the 300,000-ton ship.