Puntland/Karachi (Express Tribune, Reuters): Somali pirates killed five crew members, including three Pakistanis, after opening fire on sailors aboard the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 as Puntland security forces moved to rescue the vessel.
The tanker, carrying 17 crew members, was hijacked on April 21 near the Somali coast during a resurgence in piracy in the region. The Reuters report, published by SCMP, said the five deaths appeared to be the first reported killings of crew members by Somali pirates in more than a decade.
According to the Express Tribune, three Pakistani sailors were among those killed after the pirates came under pressure during a joint operation by Somali and Puntland security forces. The pirates allegedly opened indiscriminate fire on the abducted crew while attempting to retreat. Four other crew members were injured.
The Express Tribune identified the Pakistani victims as Second Officer Kashif Umar, Third Engineer Mahmood Ansari and Boiler Rafiullah. An Indian crew member, Tanveer, and the Myanmar chief engineer were also killed. The report said the injured included Pakistani and Indian sailors.
Puntland’s Maritime Police Force said it conducted the rescue operation off Dharin-baar in Bandar Beyla District. Authorities initially said 21 suspected pirates had been detained, but later revised the figure to 16.
The operation was not without further complications. According to the Express Tribune, the pirates damaged the tanker’s steering system while fleeing. A Somali naval vessel then began towing the damaged tanker toward shore, a journey expected to take at least two days.
Two Pakistani crew members, Hussain Yousuf and Imran Ali, had earlier contacted the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust in Karachi using the ship captain’s mobile phone and provided information about the crew’s situation. The Pakistani government and Ministry of Human Rights were also informed.
The pirates initially demanded a $3 million ransom, later reducing it to $1.9 million and then $1 million. Puntland police said the tanker was carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil when it was hijacked.
Several Pakistani sailors survived the attack, including Yasir Khan, Hussain Yousuf, Imran Ali and Yaseen, according to the Express Tribune. The Pakistani crew members came from different areas of Karachi, and their families had spent months seeking their release.
The Reuters report said the Honour 25 was carrying petroleum products and had been seized during a renewed wave of Somali piracy. Experts cited by Reuters linked the resurgence partly to the wider regional disruption caused by the Iran war, while higher oil prices have also increased the value of petroleum tankers as potential targets.
The incident follows another Puntland operation involving the tanker Sibu 1. The Express Tribune reported that Puntland forces had rescued the vessel but that 28 of 41 detained pirates later escaped during a transfer to jail, with allegations of possible local police involvement.
The renewed attacks have revived concerns over maritime security around Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. The Express Tribune cited International Maritime Organization figures showing at least 15 piracy attacks this year, the highest number since 2013.
