UK forces storm hijacked ship, free crew including Indians

LONDON: In a dramatic raid, British special forces on Tuesday stormed an Italian cargo ship and freed 23 crew members including six Indians that was hijacked by Somali pirates yesterday.

Italy's Foreign Ministry expressed "great satisfaction" in the operation to save the D'Alessio Group-owned cargo ship.

The 11 pirates who hijacked the Montecristo have all been arrested, Italian news agency ANSA said quoting sources.

The ship had a 23-member crew, including six Indians besides those from Italy and Ukraine.

The 56,000-tonne bulk carrier 'Montecristo' was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia yesterday by five pirates in a small boat.

According to the Italian-based firm ' Dalmare Spa' which manages the ship, the vessel was carrying a consignment of iron materials.

The Italian defence minister said the crew aboard ship were doing well.

The ship had set off from the port of Liverpool and was understood to be en route to Vietnam.

Media reports said that as soon as the Italian ship left the escort of a Japanese naval vessel and entered the Indian Ocean it came under attack from the pirates.