A Spanish fishing boat has been seized by pirates about 250 miles off the Somali coast.
A Basque tuna boat, the Playa de Bakio, was attacked by heavily armed pirates on Saturday in what are widely regarded as being amongst the most dangerous waters in the world. The boat, with its crew of 13 Spaniards and 13 Africans, was apparently damaged in the attack but is still navigable and is currently heading for Somalia.
Only a few days ago, six Somali pirates were in court in Paris charged with taking hostage the crew of a luxury French yacht. The owners of the yacht are believed to have paid a ransom of €1.3 million.
Some 25 boats were seized by pirates in Somali waters last year.