India’s navy intercepts bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates 

The Indian navy has intercepted a bulk carrier that was hijacked by Somali pirates and demanded they surrender.

The Indian navy in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday said, “The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will”. 

The navy said it intercepted the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen on Friday after it opened fire on an Indian warship in international waters.
The vessel was boarded by pirates on Dec. 14 and had 18 crew onboard when it was hijacked near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) off Somalia.

Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the political uncertainty and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on global shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels.