Danish navy says it found two seriously injured hostages, who later died, when it intercepted hijacked cargo ship

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Two hostages were killed as a Danish warship intercepted a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by pirates off Somalia's coast, Denmark's navy has said.

The Danish ship HDMS Absalon had been following the hijacked vessel for several days and tried to stop it when it started moving away from the coast on Monday, the navy said.

When the crew did not stop despite warning shots, the Danish forces opened fire, the navy spokesman Kenneth Nielsen said. The pirates surrendered and the Danes took control of the ship.

As they boarded the vessel, they found 17 suspected pirates and 18 hostages, Nielsen said. He declined to give their nationalities.

"Two of the hostages were found seriously injured and even with speedy assistance from Absalon's doctor, their lives could not be saved," the navy said in a statement.

It said it was not clear how the hostages were injured.

The HDMS Absalon joined Nato's Ocean Shield anti-piracy force in November.