Indian Navy Warship Responds To SOS By Bangladeshi Ship Seized By Pirates

Hijackings off Somalia since December have fuelled concerns about a resurgence of Indian Ocean raids by opportunistic pirates, coming on top of a separate surge in attacks launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Indian Navy has responded to an SOS by Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier that was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia who took its 23-member crew hostage earlier this week, the Navy said in a statement on Friday.

The MV Abdullah was sailing from Mozambique's capital Maputo to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tonnes of coal when it was attacked around midday on Tuesday, the company said.

"On receipt of intimation, the Long-Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) aircraft was immediately deployed & on locating the MV (Abdullah) in the evening of 12 March, attempted to establish communication to ascertain status of ship's crew members. However, no response was received from the ship," said the Indian Navy.