SPS NUMANCIA
9 Suspected pirates were apprehended by the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship NUMANCIA 200 miles north of the Seychelles in the India Ocean shortly after the attack on the cruise liner MSC Melody last Sunday. However, as there was not sufficient conclusive evidence to prosecute the suspects, who were in poor health, they were released from custody off the Seychelles coast and picked up by their coastguard yesterday evening. The capture operation was conducted in co-operation with an EU NAVFOR French Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a warship from the Indian Navy which also discovered an abandoned skiff not far from the scene.