Danish forces free 25 hostages held by Somali pirates
By DPA, IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
NAIROBI/COPENHAGEN - Danish special naval forces have freed 25 hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia, the Danish navy said Friday.
The freed hostages were reportedly held on the Ariella, a Barbados-flagged vessel, Ritzau news agency reported.
There was no immediate information if any suspected pirates had been arrested.
Denmark is one of the countries that has contributed naval forces patrolling the sea lanes off Somalia.
The special forces operated from the Danish navy vessel Absalon, which recently arrived to the region for a new tour of duty and over the weekend also helped liberate the crew on an Indian vessel in the Gulf of Aden.
A year ago five suspected Somali pirates were seized by the crew of the Absalon who aided a Dutch and later handed over to Dutch authorities.
