Pirates held as Dutch rescue hijacked German vessel

TEN suspected pirates have been held after commandos from the Dutch frigate Tromp recaptured the 12,612 dwt German flag Taipan, some 560 miles east of the Somali coast.

The German flag Taipan, built in 2007, has resumed its voyage from Djibouti to Mombasa with a crew of eight Sri Lankan nationals, three Russians and two Germans.One Dutch commando is understood to have been wounded during an exchange of gunfire as the Tromp, part of the EU Navfor task force, responded to a distress signal from the Taipan on Monday this week.