U.S. warships surround hijacked freighter

September 30, 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya U.S. warships yesterday surrounded an arms-laden freighter hijacked by pirates, sealing off any possible escape in a standoff near the craggy Somalia coastline. Lt. Nathan Christensen, a Navy spokesman, said that "several destroyers and missile cruisers" had joined the U.S. destroyer that was already following the hijacked vessel. He would not specify the number of warships or what they would do if the pirates refused to surrender. "Our intent is for the ship not to offload any of its cargo," he said, referring to the 33 battle tanks and large supply of grenade launchers and ammunition now in the hands of the pirates. The ship, operated by a Ukrainian arms supplier, was hijacked Thursday in Somalia's pirate-infested waters. The U.S. military, among others, fears that the pirates could sell the dangerous cargo to Islamist insurgents battling Somalia's weak government.

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U.S. warships surround hijacked freighter

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