Crew fights back to foil pirates

Pirates near Somalia were foiled after they attacked a North Korean cargo ship.

International Maritime Bureau officials say the ship was adrift off Mogadishu on 5 September for engine repairs when it encountered 10 pirates in two speed boats.

The spokesman said the captain immediately sailed off when the pirates began firing with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. He says the pirates gave chase but the crew threw fire bottles and fired parachute distress rocket flares at the bandits.

He said one of the 30 crew members was injured and the ship sustained damage.