Somali pirates killed oil tanker crew before rescue, official tells BBC

On April 25, five crew members of an oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia met their untimely demise before local security forces managed to regain control of the vessel, according to a senior regional official who spoke to the BBC. The Puntland Deputy Information Minister, Bile Qabowsade, confirmed that the deceased comprised three Pakistani nationals, one Indian, and one individual from Myanmar.

In addition to the deaths, four other crew members were injured, including three Pakistanis and one Indian. The tanker, MT Hoarner 25, was carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil intended for Mogadishu at the time of the attack.

Six armed men were responsible for boarding the tanker in April while it was sailing off the coast of Somalia. Since the hijacking, sixteen suspected pirates have been apprehended, while others have managed to escape and are currently being pursued by authorities. Qabowsade firmly denied claims that Puntland forces had intervened to facilitate the escape of some pirates.

Specific details about the circumstances surrounding the crew members' deaths and the method by which pirates gained control of the vessel have not been made public by the authorities.

The hijacked tanker was anchored near the Somali coast, situated between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla. Initially, officials claimed there were 17 crew members aboard when the vessel was hijacked, consisting of 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and a Myanmar national. Despite a decline in piracy off the Somali coast following international naval operations in 2011, incidents of attacks and hijackings have resurfaced in recent years.