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Australian frigate defuses piracy attack
An Australian naval vessel thwarted a suspected attempt to hijack an Antigua-flagged general cargo ship 50 miles off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday night.
Photo: Australian Defence Force
Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba answered a call for assistance from 3846dwt BBC Portugal, which had sighted a boat of armed men travelling towards the vessel.
Surveillance aircraft and a navy helicopter confirmed those on the suspected pirate boat had dumped items, including a ladder, before HMAS Toowoomba arrived at the scene.
A search of the boat found a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a cache of AK47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.
The suspected pirates denied any intention to board the general cargo ship.
Their weapons were confiscated and they were given food, water and fuel and sent back to Somalia.
HMAS Toowoomba remains on counter-piracy operations in the region along with other Australian operatives.
Photos: Australian Defence Force
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