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Defiant pirates fire on US ship
Evening Standard15 Apr 2009
SOMALI pirates shot at a ship in a brazen daylight attack off Mombasa in an apparent show of defiance.
They fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at US cargo ship Liberty Sun which was carrying humanitarian aid to Kenya.
Pirates have seized four other ships with 60 hostages since US special forces killed three gunmen when they freed hijacked American freighter captain Richard Phillips on Sunday. "No one can deter us," one bandit boasted. The Liberty Sun's American crew was not injured but the vessel sustained damage and a small fire broke out.
The destroyer USS Bainbridge, which was carrying Mr Phillips home, responded to the attack but the pirates had gone by the time it arrived.
Reader views (6)
They are "defiantly" continuing to do what they did before the rescue of the American captain. Other than them getting some totally undeserved David and Goliath press, what has changed?
With their assault weapons and their rifle grenades, they attack unarmed humanitarian aid ships and anything else they can get their hands on without discrimination. They are pirates, but without the gloss of film romance or comedy. They are thugs and criminals. End of story.
- Rogan, Irving, 15/04/2009 23:10
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How come exocet missiles reach their targets at sea? Is it so difficult to design a special radar that doesn't allow any matter, whether of steel,wood or rubber, to penetrate within a 2 mile radius of any sea going vessel? They use those things on car bumpers, so why not around the whole vessel?? When those Somalis hear the whistle/bell/blower hitting 5,000 decibels, they'll turn 180 degrees and head back home. But a mother ship with a few helicopters around may help stop these pirates escaping. Voila!
- David Goldstone, London, 15/04/2009 16:48
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I am finding it difficult to understand why the Warships are not destroying these Pirates as soon as they leave their territorial waters,they don't have to be in sight of the enemy before destroying it.and why are'nt any of the Pirated Ships retaliating with hose pipes and small arms and the odd hand grenade,to see the sides of some of these ships from the waters surface is quite daunting.
- David., Chertsey.UK., 15/04/2009 16:37
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Can't the world's navies replace a few seamen armed with some sort of small guided missiles and heavy machine guns on every ship travelling through these waters? (Something like a hand-held anti-tank missile, not the expensive bigger sort). After a few boatloads of attacking pirates had been blown out of the water, they'd probably decide it was far too dangerous a pastime and give up.
Convoys of merchantmen with naval escorts would be another good idea.
- Nigel, London, 15/04/2009 14:40
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These guys are just taking the mickey now!
- Gary, London, 15/04/2009 14:08
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It's obvious that you need an aircraft carrier in the vicinity, for rapid response by fighter jets to blow these pirates out of the water, but that would be very expensive, I think all the Western Governments should have a whip round to support this kind of deterrent.
- Ros, London UK, 15/04/2009 13:49
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