The European Union Naval Force said it has transferred 11 piracy suspects to Seychellois legal authorities for possible prosecution.

Naval Force Somalia spokesman Paddy O'Kennedy said the suspected pirates were detained by the EUNAVFOR warship after they allegedly threatened a Seychelles-flagged fishing vessel 260 nautical miles North West of the Islands. "The transfer has been made possible due to the agreement between the EU and the Seychelles," O'Kennedy said in a statement.

He said after presenting the case to the Seychellois authorities, it has been agreed to transfer the suspected pirates to the Seychelles for prosecution. "These suspected pirates, who were allegedly plying their trade against a Seychellois vessel, will now face Seychellois justice," O'Kennedy said.

On March 28, the EUNAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS Canarias disrupted a suspected Pirate Action Group (PAG), consisting of a whaler-style boat and a skiff, 260 nautical miles northwest of the Seychelles after a fishing vessel reported the PAGs presence to the warship.

The Seychellois flagged fishing vessel had reported that a whaler and a skiff had approached her in a suspicious manner with automatic weapons and a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) clearly visible.

The EUNAVFOR warship immediately made her way to the scene and launched her SH-60B helicopter to investigate further.

After two attempts by the Whaler to flee the scene, the helicopter was forced to fire warning shots in front of the vessel to make it stop.

The occupants of the whaler were observed throwing items of equipment overboard just before the ESPS Canarias arrived.

Having been stopped by the helicopter, the whaler and the skiff were boarded by a team from the Spanish warship and 11 suspected pirates detained. The whaler was taken alongside by the warship and the skiff was destroyed.

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