Danish tanker escapes pirate attack

A Danish tanker escaped a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden after a French patrolling aircraft forced the Somali attackers to flee, the multi-national anti-piracy force said yesterday.

The tanker MV Torm Ragnhild sent a distress call after pirates on two skiffs fired bullets and rocket-propelled grenades at it along an "internationally recommended transit corridor" on Sunday, the Combined Maritime Forces said.

A nearby French aircraft flew to the location where the Danish-flagged ship was trying to evade the attackers by speeding up, zig-zagging and spraying its fire hose, it said in a statement.