A European Union naval force warship has taken charge of six suspected pirates who tried to approach a vessel last week.

In its official website and in a social media post on Friday, May 10, the European Union Naval Force (Eunavfor) – Operation Atalanta confirmed the incident, identifying the merchant vessel Chrystal Arctic as the attacked vessel.

Operation Atalanta has confirmed the suspicious approach to the Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel Chrystal Arctic, at 100 nautical miles north of Bosaso (Somalia), with an exchange of fire between the security team of the ship and a skiff with suspected pirates on board.

No injuries have been reported by Eunavfor.

As it is reported, after the attack was repelled by the merchant ship private security team, one of Atalanta warships in the vicinity has been the first actor to respond.

“Currently, the frigate has taken charge of the 6 suspected pirates, securing their physical integrity due to the unsafe condition of their skiff and treating some of them with injuries of varied severity,” said Eunavfor in its statement.

Atalanta forces are conducting the investigation on the event by gathering evidence for the assessment of the situation.