Somali pirates killed oil tanker crew before rescue

Five crew members of an oil tanker hijacked off the coast of Somalia were killed before regional security forces regained control of the vessel, according to a Puntland official. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Indian and one person from Myanmar. Four other crew members sustained injuries, comprising three Pakistanis and one Indian.

The tanker, MT Hoarner 25, was carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu when it was seized in April by six armed individuals. Sixteen suspected pirates have been apprehended, while others have fled and are currently being pursued. Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade denied claims that forces from the semi-autonomous Somali region had aided some of the pirates in escaping.

The authorities have not disclosed the circumstances of the crew members' deaths or how the pirates gained control of the ship. The hijacked tanker was anchored near the Somali coast between the fishing villages of Xaafun and Bander Beyla. In April, officials stated there were 17 crew members on board, consisting of 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and a Myanmar national.

Piracy along Somalia's coast decreased significantly after 2011 due to international naval operations, but recent years have seen a resurgence in attacks and hijackings.