One suspected pirate was killed and five others injured early Saturday when US Navy ships in the Indian Ocean returned fire after coming under attack from pirates, DPA reporetd The incident occurred in international waters approximately 25 nautical miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia at 5:40 am local time, according to a US Navy 5th Fleet statement released in Bahrain. The guided missile cruiser USS Cape St George and the guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez were conducting maritime security operations in the area when they spotted a suspect vessel towing two smaller skiffs bearing west toward the coast, the statement said. As teams prepared to conduct a routine boarding, the ships noticed the group of suspected pirates were brandishing what appeared to be rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, the statement continued. The suspected pirates then opened fire on the navy ships, which returned fire with small arms, killing one suspected pirate and wounding five. Twelve other suspects were taken into custody, including the five injured, the statement said. The Navy boarding teams also confiscated an RPG launcher and automatic weapons. The US Navy said that no US sailors were injured during the engagement. -
