Detained 3 Al Qaeda members reveal plot to blow up commercial tankers! September 5, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
add a comment
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani intelligence officers working with the CIA arrested three members of Al Qaeda including a top operative believed to have been tasked by Usama bin Laden with targeting American economic interests around the world, Pakistan’s army said Monday.
Younis al-Mauritani’s arrest — made public five days before the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks — was seen as a blow to Al Qaeda’s central leadership in Pakistan, further degrading its ability to mount terrorist attacks abroad. The terrorist organization has seen its senior ranks thinned since Usama bin Laden was killed May 2 along with Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the group’s No.2, in a CIA missile strike last month.
The statement said al-Mauritani was mainly responsible for Al Qaeda’s international operations and was tasked by bin Laden with hitting targets of economic importance in America, Europe and Australia. It said he was planning to target U.S. economic interests including gas and oil pipelines, power generating dams and oil tankers transiting in international waters by using explosive-laden speed boats to attack them.
It named the other two detainees as Abdul-Ghaffar al-Shami and Messara al-Shami.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment. The U.S. has said it doesn’t know of any specific Al Qaeda plot to attack the U.S. ahead of Sept. 11.
Pakistan training pirates? August 30, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in weapons and tactics.Tags: Chris Mark, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates
add a comment
According to an article published on Zeenews India claims to have “material evidence” that Somali pirates are receiving training in Pakastan. According to the article, the training is intended to support a proxy war against India. Whether this assertion stands up to scrutiny remains to be seen. If however, Somali pirates are receiving formal training by foreign governments it would suggest a much deeper problem for shipping companies. As the story develops we will provide more information.
Somali pirates release vessel after 10 months in captivity August 30, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates
add a comment
A Greece based shipping company has spoken of its distress during a piracy experience following the release of its hijacked tanker after 10 months in captivity.While Paradise Navigation, operators and managers of the 72,825 dwt product tanker MV Polar said it was “delighted” with the freeing, they were frustrated that owners and operators have been unaided against piracy.
While faced with many decisions on how to deal with piracy, ultimately shipping companies need to remain proactive in protecting their interests. The community can’t afford to wait for intervention by international governments. The message is loud and clear, this is an industry problem and needs to be dealt with by the industry.
Somali gets life in prison for hijacking U.S. yacht that left four Americans dead! August 22, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: gulf of aden, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
add a comment
NORFOLK, Va. – A Somali man was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for his role in the hijacking of yacht off the coast of Africa that left all four Americans on board dead, telling a federal judge that he never meant for anyone to get hurt.
“I’d like to express my regret and sorrow to the victims’ families,” Ali Abdi Mohamed said through an interpreter.
Mohamed is the first of 11 men who have pleaded guilty to piracy in the case to be sentenced. Each of the men face mandatory life sentences, although that could eventually be reduced as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. A second Somali was expected to be sentenced later in the day.
The pirates said they intended to bring the Americans back to Somalia so that they could be ransomed, but that plan fell apart when four U.S. Navy warships began shadowing them. The Navy offered to let the pirates take the yacht in exchange for the hostages, but the pirates said they wouldn’t get the kind of money they wanted for it. Hostages are typically ransomed for millions of dollars.
Mohamed told prosecutors he was ordered to fire a rocket propelled grenade at the American warships to keep them away from the Quest. Court documents say that in doing so, he inadvertently killed one of the pirates who was standing too close behind him. Shortly after the RPG was fired, gun fire erupted aboard the yacht.
Somali Pirates hijack vessel while at anchor! August 21, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
1 comment so far
In what is being described as the first attack of its kind and the most brazen attack yet, Somali pirates hijacked the chemical tanker MV Fairchem Bogey with a crew of 20 Indians and flagged in the Marshall Islands.
She was taken at anchor off Port Salalah, Oman. Boarded at 0530 and forced to heave up and steam toward Somalia. An Omani warship fired across the bow but the Master was forced to call the managers and tell them that the pirates were prepared to kill the crew, all lined up on the bridge, if the pursuit was not called off. The warship shadowed the vessel until out of Omani territorial waters.
This brazen attack demonstrates the tactics used by pirates will evolve and become more sophisticated over time. This year alone there have been many firsts; attacks in the Red Sea, vessels hijacked during Monsoon season, not releasing crews after ransoms were paid and now hijacking vessels while anchored at port.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 