AFR: 4 pirates die in shoot-out with Sierra Leone navy: police
28 Nov 2008 3:45 AM
FREETOWN, Nov 27 AFP - Four pirates were killed in a three-hour gun battle with the Sierra Leone navy after they tried to attack two Chinese fishing boats off the west African coast, police said Thursday.
Five pirates were arrested, one Sierra Leone national and four Guineans, all of whom are being held in a Freetown jail.
Two of the Guineans have been identified as army officials, the police said. The pirates were armed with Uzi's and AK-47 machine guns.
"In the fierce exchange of fire between the naval patrol and the pirates, two others were killed, two drowned and the crafts of the pirates were sunk," police spokesman Ibrahim Samura told AFP.
The attack took place Wednesday night some 45 kilometres off the Freetown coast.
"The pirates boarded the vessels... and put the crew under gunpoint. We responded to a distress call from one of the vessel's captains and a three-hour battle ensued," Samura said.
According to a marine spokesman who did not want to be identified, piracy and poaching in the territorial waters off the coast of Sierra Leone are endemic problems. According to him, such pirate attacks or attempted attacks happen at least once a month.
