Somali pirates have released the Bangladesh-flagged vessel MV Abdullah and its 23-member crew after reportedly receiving a ransom. The ship, carrying coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was hijacked off Somalia’s coast about a month ago.
The pirates claimed to have received $5 million (£4 million), but this has not been independently confirmed. A recent increase in hijackings has been reported off Somalia’s coast, with over a dozen vessels targeted since late November.
Security experts attribute this spike to a security vacuum created by foreign navies shifting their focus to the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group.
Between 2005 and 2012, pirates in the region earned an estimated $339-413 million by holding crew members hostage for ransom, according to the World Bank.
Reuters reported that two pirates confirmed receiving a $5 million ransom for MV Abdullah’s release, stating that they checked the money for authenticity before departing to avoid government forces.
The KSRM Group, the vessel’s owner, negotiated the release and confirmed the crew’s safety. The ship has since sailed to the UAE under the escort of two warships.
Here is a revised version without plagiarism:
Somali pirates have released the MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel, and its crew of 23 members after reportedly receiving a ransom. The ship was transporting coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was hijacked off the coast of Somalia about a month ago.
The pirates claimed to have received a ransom of $5 million (£4 million), although this claim has not been independently verified. This incident is part of a recent increase in hijackings off the coast of Somalia, with more than a dozen vessels targeted since late November.
Security experts believe that the uptick in piracy is due to a security vacuum created by the redirection of foreign naval patrols to the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has been attacking ships.
Between 2005 and 2012, pirates in the region reportedly earned between $339 million and $413 million by holding crew members hostage for ransom, according to estimates by the World Bank.
Two pirates confirmed to Reuters that they received a $5 million ransom for the release of the MV Abdullah and its crew. They stated that they verified the authenticity of the money before leaving to avoid government forces.
The vessel’s owner, the KSRM Group, negotiated the release and confirmed that all crew members are safe. The MV Abdullah has since sailed to the UAE under the escort of two warships.
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