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Finnish ship hijacked in Swedish waters

Published: 30 Jul 09 16:25 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/21014/20090730/

A Finnish ship was hijacked off the Swedish island of Öland in the early hours of last Friday.

A group of black-clad masked men boarded the ship and, claiming to be police officers, searched the Maltese-registered vessel which was laden with timber bound for Algeria.

The vessel's Russian crew were bound and gagged for the duration of their 12 hour ordeal which began at around 3am on Friday July 24th.

The Swedish National Police Board (Rikspolisstyrelsen) have stated that the men were not police, neither were they representatives from any other authority.

"It is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing in Swedish waters," Ingemar Isaksson at the board said to the TT news agency.

The Swedish police were informed of the hijacking via the Russian authorities through which the 15-man crew had contacted the Russian embassy in Stockholm.

The Swedish police have launched an investigation into the hijacking amid allegations that the crew were assaulted with rifle butts.

Exactly what the hijackers, who spoke English, were looking for remains unclear. Reports indicate that they said something about a "drug enforcement control" and that they were looking for narcotics.

The Swedish police are in possession of information forwarded by the shipping company to the Finnish police but have not yet managed to contact the vessel.

Police are now making attempts to contact the vessel and are also appealing for information from any recreational sailors who may have seen anything.

The hijackers are reported to have been travelling in a high-speed inflatable boat. After the attack the vessel continued on its journey.

TT/Peter Vinthagen Simpson (news@thelocal.se)

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17:53 July 30, 2009 by mdl29907
WTF.........?
18:13 July 30, 2009 by conboy
Sounds like the Finnish special forces were having a pop at the old enemy. No one hurt? Sounds like a wind up!
18:28 July 30, 2009 by skane refugee
Maybe the Swedish government has sent a fact-finding team to Somalia and come back with some innovative ideas for 'economic stimulus' ;o)
19:05 July 30, 2009 by jack sprat
Hmmmm,...very mysterious.

Five countries involved,(up till now),..........

Finland,Algeria,Malta,Sweden and Russia,

Plus the Russian crew,"Russian authorities",Russian embassy,and Swedish police.....

resulting in......

A Twisted Tale?

A Cock and Bull Story?

The makings of a Master Spy Mystery or Novel?

Well its not April 1st,so who knows,

Gotta be more to it,

The mind boggles,again.....
20:56 July 30, 2009 by Greg in Canada
The Somali pirates are operating a little far north aren't they? :-)
22:56 July 30, 2009 by svenskdod
Andy McNab alert anyone?
23:18 July 30, 2009 by Nemesis
This is no joke.

The Finnish, Russian, Sedeish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Danish, Polish and German navies need to be on the alert over this and co-ordinate there actions to catch the culprits.
02:14 July 31, 2009 by Coalbanks
Apparently Pirate is a career of choise for an increasing # of Swedes? Where do they all hang-out/ In the Bay? heh heh
09:25 July 31, 2009 by martell
European navies and coast guards have to reach a stage of cooperation which enables them to be alert and active against seabound crimes.
10:27 July 31, 2009 by jannestig
No harm in resuming your cultural heritage. The VIKINGS are back :)
13:43 July 31, 2009 by mdl29907
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark...
14:10 July 31, 2009 by Cavemanroge
has it something to do with the rise in popularity of the Pirate party , or is it facebooks pirate vs ninja application going one step to far.....
14:56 July 31, 2009 by Leprehcaun
Now this is obviously valid proof that some ppl confuse the Baltic sea with the pirate bay.. :D

Woo! Go vikings!
20:21 July 31, 2009 by futuramark
are you swedes becoming like the somalis...i hope your country investigates properly since it involves your own police force sweden...mark from malta. or are you becoming vikings again???
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