Pirates hijack Chinese fishing vessel with 18 crew members off Somalia's Puntland coast

A Chinese fishing vessel with up to 18 crew members aboard has been hijacked by alleged pirates off the coast of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, according to the European Union's anti-piracy naval force.

The hijacking, which took place on Thursday, involved pirates reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and machine guns.

The EU naval force described the incident as a "robbery at sea" but confirmed that no crew members were injured during the attack.

Pirate activity off Somalia’s coast had been a significant issue between 2008 and 2018, disrupting international shipping.

However, piracy incidents had decreased in recent years before rising again late last year.

The hijacking marks a concerning resurgence in pirate activity off the Horn of Africa, particularly in the waters of Puntland, a region that has long been a hotspot for such incidents.