A tanker was boarded by six armed men and diverted toward Somalia after being approached by an unauthorised vessel in the Gulf of Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Thursday.
UKMTO said the incident occurred about 136 nautical miles east of Mukalla, Yemen, as the tanker was travelling west. The armed men reportedly took control of the vessel before changing its course toward Somalia.
Authorities have not provided further details about the vessel, the identity of the attackers or their motives. UKMTO also did not confirm whether the tanker or its crew were safe.
The incident highlights continuing security risks for commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden, a major maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
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