9 pirate suspects arrested in cruise ship attack

[April 28, 2009]  NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- The Seychelles Coast Guard says it has arrested nine suspected pirates believed to be behind the attempted hijacking of a luxury cruise liner over the weekend.

The coast guard says the nine arrived in the Seychelles on Tuesday. They are thought to have participated in the attempted hijacking of the MSC Melody, which was attacked Saturday 200 nautical miles north of the island nation.

When the Melody made a distress call, the Seychelles Coast Guard sent out a small plane that spent five hours photographing the pirates' skiff and marking its position. A Spanish navy ship then set off and apprehended the suspects Sunday.

The suspects were handed over to Seychelles authorities and are now in jail.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.