Danes: Pirates off West Africa suspected of taking hostages

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s military says pirates are suspected of taking six hostages from a container ship in international waters in the Gulf of Guinea  this week. While sailing off West Africa on an international anti-piracy mission, the Danish navy frigate HDMS Esbern Snare responded Monday to information that a container ship was under attack near Bioko Island off Equatorial Guinea. The Danish military said the frigate dispatched a Seahawk helicopter, which observed several suspected pirates and hostages boarding a skiff stationed alongside the vessel. The helicopter crew pursued the skiff as it sailed north. However, the aircraft had to stop when it reached the airspace above Nigerian waters.