An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 passengers on board was targeted by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia on motzei Shabbos.

The six pirates in a small vessel targeted the Msc Melody about 200km (180 miles) north of Seychelles, but apparently they did not expect to find Israeli security agents on board, agents who fired at the pirates and thwarting the attack.

According to the ship’s captain, Ciro Pinto, the pirates fired automatic weapons and tried placing a ladder into position but the swift action and return fire from the security agents thwarted the attack.

Cruise line officials praised the actions of the security team, stating they hired Israelis because they felt they are the best trained for the assignment. There were no reports of injuries in the attack. According to the Italian company officials, the security agents were armed with pistols, not automatic weapons.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)