A Dutch warship on which a number of Maltese soldiers are serving, disrupted an attack by pirates off Somalia earlier this month.

According to international press reports the warship Johan de Witt intercepted the pirates after their presence was detected just 30 miles away from the ship by a Swedish maritime patrol aircraft.

The pirates, who were on a whaler and two skiffs, threw weapons into the sea as the warship approached.

Dutch marines boarded the vessels and found evidence of piracy. All 11 pirates were arrested.

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