(UPI)
Somali pirates hijacked a Bangladeshi cargo ship on Tuesday and took more than 20 of the crew hostage.
The cargo ship “MV” Abdullah was hijacked while on its way to Al Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates.
According to reports, 23 crew members were taken hostage along with the ship, which was carrying 58 tons of coal from Mozambique.
An official with SR Shipping Lines, which own 23 vessels, confirmed to New Age Bangladesh that the company got a message at about 1:30 p.m. local time from the captain, who informed them of the hijacking.
The captain said in short message that the crew was safe.
A crew member said in an audio clip that the pirates attacked their ship using an Iranian fishing boat allegedly hijacked months prior.
“The pirates are threatening us. I am sending this voice message from the washroom. There are 7-8 of them. They intend to take us to their camp. They all have guns,” the crew member, who’s identity could not be ascertained, according to The Business Standard.
