One Pirate Dies in Exchange of Gunfire in Dhanaane Village
One pirate died and two others were wounded when two pirate groups clashed over a dispute Sunday afternoon in Dhanaane village, located between Garacad and Hobyo district, witnesses said.
One of the pirates told Somalia Report that a fight broke out between two different pirate groups holding the Greek-owned MV Polar, which pirates hijacked on October 30th last year and is currently being held off Hobyo.
The owners of the vessel reportedly agreed to pay one of the gangs $8 million ransom on July 20, 2011, which the pirates accepted, but the other pirate gang and one of its investors refused to the release the ship and demanded more money. The pirate said the investor who complained was one of the pirates wounded in today's incident and was rushed to Galkayo Hospital. Meanwhile, the pirates remain in Dhanaane village while yet another pirate group has intervened to broker deal.
Local residents told Somalia Report that five days earlier pirates killed a local businessman after he refused to sell them food in an attempt to keep pirates out of the village. “Drunken pirates always open fire in the village and it causes damages to the people and our property. Although none of us were injured today, we feel afraid,” said Hassan Abdi Koraaye, a resident in Dhanaane village.
Sources close to the pirates indicate that the crew of that MV Polar is worried about their safety and are aware of the pirate dispute. The same sources confirmed that five other hostages, crew from another hijacked vessel, are now being held on the Polar.
Their nationalities and the name of the ship from which they came are unknown. Pirates told Somalia Report that the MV Polar was supposed to be released last week, but the dispute between the pirates and the investor has delayed its release.