Pirates accidentally attack military ship

Two ships full of Somali pirates spotted a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean, 250 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Ready to pilfer, plunder and otherwise pirate a bountiful booty, they set toward the cargo ship under the dark of night, AK-47s ablaze. That is, until they got close enough to see that their ...

579640_091008_somalipirates2.jpg
579640_091008_somalipirates2.jpg

Two ships full of Somali pirates spotted a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean, 250 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Ready to pilfer, plunder and otherwise pirate a bountiful booty, they set toward the cargo ship under the dark of night, AK-47s ablaze. That is, until they got close enough to see that their cargo ship full of riches was in fact a French naval vessel, full of armed soldiers.

Two ships full of Somali pirates spotted a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean, 250 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Ready to pilfer, plunder and otherwise pirate a bountiful booty, they set toward the cargo ship under the dark of night, AK-47s ablaze. That is, until they got close enough to see that their cargo ship full of riches was in fact a French naval vessel, full of armed soldiers.

What then proceeded is something of a Monty Python skit. The sailors, some of whom had directed commando operations to free French hostages taken by the pirates, chased one of the boats for over an hour. When boarded the ship they found that the boat of would-be thieves jettisoned their water, food and weapons, pretending to just be a bunch of guys hanging out on a dinghy at night on the Indian Ocean.

The other boat escaped and has yet to be found.

Olivier Amalvict/AFP/Getty Images

Bobby Pierce is an editorial researcher at Foreign Policy.
Read More On Drugs & Crime

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.