KENYA: French captain relates pirate capture, says multinational force seeing results

Record ID: 362104

  • Title: KENYA: French captain relates pirate capture, says multinational force seeing results
  • Date: 23rd April 2009
  • Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (APRIL 22, 2009) (REUTERS) FRENCH NAVAL FRIGATE "NIVOSE" JEAN-MARC LE QUIELLIEC, CAPTAIN OF ''NIVOSE'' AND KENYAN POLICE OFFICIALS LOOKING AT PIRATE'S EVIDENCE FRENCH FLAG ON BOAT (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) JEAN MARC LE QUIELLIEC, CAPTAIN OF FRENCH FRIGATE, "NIVOSE", SAYING: "What is difficult is that you never know what will happen. I felt confident for that
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA1GA7RVRBF2FGOY2SYA3AH98ZS
  • Story Text: The captain of a French naval frigate on Wednesday (April 22) recounted how his his crew captured 11 suspected Somali pirates in an operation off the coast of Kenya.
    Captain Jean-Marc le Queilliec spoke to journalists while showing Kenyan police what he said was evidence of pirate activities.
    The French captain told of the dangers of capturing armed men at sea but said the risks were minimised by the huge show of force available to a naval frigate.
    Fench naval officers then handed over 11 men who are to be charged with piracy in a Kenyan court.
    The capture came as international navies ramp up a mission to fight the wave of attacks on shipping in the waters off East Africa.
    Known as "Operation Atalanta", the European Union's mission in the area involves patrolling the area with aircraft and vessels. French forces taking part in the operation capturednot only the 11 pirates but also their small mothership and two skiffs, hundreds of miles (kilometres) east of the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
    Somali gangs in small boats are challenging the world's military powers with ever more daring strikes along major trade routes, expanding their operations towards the coast of Kenya and the Seychelles islands.
    After falling sharply early this year, the number of attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean has shot up. Most attacks have been unsuccessful, causing pirates to roam further and further.
    There have been 18 attacks in April so far. France normally delivers the pirates to Kenya, where they will face trial as part of a new agreement with the European Union, which was signed in March.
    Kenya has agreed to deal with the detainees under accords with the European Union, Britain and the United States, but it has said it cannot try all pirates.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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