Somali pirates hijack Saudi oil tanker

[classicman]

Pirates mistakenly attack French naval vessel

Five Somali pirates have been captured after firing on a French naval vessel by mistake, apparently thinking it was a cargo ship, the BBC reports.

French military spokesman Admiral Christophe Prazuck says the pirates attacked at night about 300 miles off the Somalia coast.

But instead of a harmless cargo vessel, they tangled (briefly) with the Somme, a French navy command and supply ship.
Admiral Prazuck told French TV station La Chaine Info that the pirates seemed to be surprised that the navy ship fought back, the BBC reports.

"Once they realized they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee," he said.