Pirates hijack Thai merchant ship off Somali coast
{{date|November 12, 2005}}

The [[w:Somalia|Somalian]] government called on Saturday for the international community to help stem the wave of recent seafaring pirate attacks off their coast in the Indian Ocean.

The London-based [[w:International Maritime Bureau|International Maritime Bureau]] (IMB) reported yesterday that a [[w:Thailand|Thai]] merchant vessel and its crew of 26 have been hijacked by Somalian pirates off their coastline. 

The predominantly Thai crew were kidnapped at gunpoint, and a ransom has been demanded for their release. The merchant ship was en-route from [[w:Brazil|Brazil]] to [[w:Yemen|Yemen]] with a cargo of sugar.

A letter to Somalia from the [[w:United Nations|United Nations]] security council admonished the government. Somalia has largely disintegrated into fiefdoms since the former dictator [[w:Siad Barre|Siad Barre]] was ousted in 1991. 

Last weekend, a [[w:United States|U.S.]]-owned cruise ship was attacked with rocket propelled grenades. It is the fourth ship to be attacked in the space of a week. According to the IMB, there have been 23 other pirating attacks in coastal waters off the east African nation since March 15.  

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Armed gunmen attack cruise ship off Somali coast
|date=November 5, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Aid ship sailing to Somalia hijacked; aid supply threatened
|date=July 5, 2005}}

== Sources ==
{{Wikipediapar|List of ships attacked by Somali pirates}}
*{{source|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10574120.htm
|title=Pirates strike again off Somalia, kidnap crew
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=November 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=61213
|title=Hijackers seize Thai ship, crew off Somalia
|author=
|pub=The Bangkok Post
|date=November 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://202.60.196.117/breaking/read.php?lang=en&newsid=94019
|title=Thai merchant ship with 23 crewmembers hijacked
|author=
|pub=The Nation (Thailand)
|date=November 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,6119,2-11-1447_1821590,00.html 
|title=Pirates: Somalia needs help
|author=
|pub=News24
|date=November 12, 2005}}

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[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Somalia]]
[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Merchant shipping]]
[[Category:Piracy]]
[[Category:Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)]]
[[Category:International Maritime Bureau]]
The Somalian government called on Saturday for the international community to help stem the wave of recent seafaring pirate attacks off their coast in the Indian Ocean.

The London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported yesterday that a Thai merchant vessel and its crew of 26 have been hijacked by Somalian pirates off their coastline. 

The predominantly Thai crew were kidnapped at gunpoint, and a ransom has been demanded for their release. The merchant ship was en-route from Brazil to Yemen with a cargo of sugar.

A letter to Somalia from the United Nations security council admonished the government. Somalia has largely disintegrated into fiefdoms since the former dictator Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. 

Last weekend, a U.S.-owned cruise ship was attacked with rocket propelled grenades. It is the fourth ship to be attacked in the space of a week. According to the IMB, there have been 23 other pirating attacks in coastal waters off the east African nation since March 15.  

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Crime and law Somalia Thailand Africa Transport Merchant shipping Piracy Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie) International Maritime Bureau