Indian navy says ship it attacked was hostile

NEW DELHI: India's navy said on Wednesday that a ship it attacked and sank in the Gulf of Aden was hostile, after a maritime watchdog said the vessel was a Thai fishing trawler and not a pirate ship.

"The vessel was similar in description to what was mentioned in various piracy bulletins," an Indian navy spokesman, Commander Nirad Sinha, told media.

"The Indian navy ship asked them to stop for investigation on repeated calls. The vessel responded by saying it would blow up the Indian ship... Pirates were seen roaming on the deck with rocket-propelled grenade launchers."

He said the Indian navy only opened fire after being fired upon, and that "exploding ammunition was also seen" on the target.