Luxury cruise ship attacked by pirates!

BBC News: The Seabourn Spirit sailing off the coast of Somalia was attacked by pirates firing a rocket-propelled grenade and machine guns.

The 302 passengers and crew, most of them believed to be Americans as well as some Britons, were surprised to find the ship under attack at 5.30 in the morning. The crew took evasive action, repelling the attackers without returning fire, and used an on-board loud acoustic bang to deter the gunmen.

At least 23 hijackings and attempted seizures have been recorded off the Somali coast since mid-March, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which has warned ships to stay as far away from the coast as possible.

“The southern coastline is among the most dangerous in the world,” said Mr Mwangura.

Somalia has been without a functioning central authority since 1991 when warlords took power after Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.