On Wednesday 11th April the Danish Navy warship Absalon arrested sixteen Somali men after the Absalon raided an alleged pirate mother ship. Of the sixteen men, four were handed over to the Seychelles on 1st May to be prosecuted; the other twelve continue to remain on board the Danish warship whilst Denmark endeavours to find another country willing to prosecute them.
It is the second time that the Seychelles has accepted alleged pirates from Denmark for prosecution. Over the last few years 280 alleged pirates have been captured by Danish warships and 37 have been prosecuted, but none have yet been brought to trial in Denmark.
It is also the second time in just over a month that the Absalon warship has been involved in pirate rescue operations. However, in an operation in February two of the alleged hostages were killed.
