Asia/Pacific News
Armed Bunker Pirates Strike Again off Malaysia
Following the hijacking of a tanker and theft of diesel cargo in the Malacca Strait Wednesday, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has released information about a similar attack last week off the southeastern coast of Malaysia, international news service AFP reports.
"The tanker was hijacked off Aur Island, in the eastern coast of Malaysia," said Noel Choong, head of the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre.
"The heavily-armed pirates hit the captain with a sword and destroyed communication equipment."
Choong said the incident occurred on April 17, when 16 pirates in a speedboat boarded the Thai product tanker in the night, but the IMB was not aware of the attack until Thursday because of the damage to the communications system.
Choong did not have information about the captain's condition.
"The pirates siphoned part of the tanker's diesel cargo into a tanker ship and stole crew members' valuables before escaping," he said.
Choong said the IMB is concerned that attacks around Malaysia are rising.
In the Wednesday morning incident in the Malacca Strait, police are now investigating evidence that the vessel's captain, first officer, and chief engineer may have been complicit in the attack.
Authorities also reported three pirate attacks in the region last month.
