Police in Somalia say pirates killed 5 crew members of a hijacked tanker

Authorities in Somalia's Puntland region report pirates killed five crew members of a hijacked fuel tanker before security forces retook the vesselByOMAR FARUK Associated PressSeptember 30, 2026, 11:52 AMMOGADISHU, Somalia -- Pirates killed five crew members of a hijacked fuel tanker before security forces retook the vessel off Somalia, authorities in the country’s semiautonomous Puntland region said.The MT Honour 25 was seized in April with 17 crew members aboard, one of a growing number of piracy incidents in Puntland. The tanker was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil.Sixteen suspected pirates were detained following the operation on Tuesday, and at least 11 others escaped and remain at large, authorities said.The victims include three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian, the Puntland Maritime Police Force said Tuesday. Four others, including three Pakistanis and one Indian, were injured.The tanker was secured and placed under the protection of Puntland authorities, according to a statement by the Puntland Maritime Police Force. The pirates are believed to have kept the crew supplied with food during the hijacking.Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “deeply...