Somali pirates killed five crew members, including three Pakistanis, before Puntland security forces rescued the hijacked MT Honour 25 tanker after nearly five months in captivity.
The Palau-flagged petroleum products tanker was seized on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Puntland, with 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
Puntland’s Information Ministry said the pirates killed five crew members before security forces began the rescue operation. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national. Four other crew members were injured, including three Pakistanis and one Indian.
The Puntland authorities said the tanker was successfully recovered and 16 pirates were captured during the operation.
The Pakistani victims were identified by local reports as Second Officer Kashif Umar, Third Engineer Mahmood Ansari and Oiler Rafiullah Khan.
Surviving Pakistani crew members reportedly contacted the Ansar Burney Trust after the incident and provided details of the attack. The trust has called for the injured sailors to receive immediate medical treatment and for the bodies of those killed to be returned to their families.
The incident comes amid a recent resurgence in Somali piracy, renewing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers in the region.
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