Eleven men were indicted by a federal grand jury in the US on piracy charges in connection with attacks on US Navy ships off the coast of Africa.
The men, captured within the last month after attacking and exchanging fire with US Navy vessels in African waters, face charges of piracy, conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon under indictments unsealed today in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia.
The US warships were operating as part of an international flotilla protecting shipping in the region.
The men "maliciously attacked and set upon" Navy ships "with an intent to unlawfully plunder" them, according to the indictment.
Navy personnel captured five of the alleged pirates on March 31st after they exchanged fire with the frigate USS Nicholas off the Seychelles, according to court papers.
The other six were taken into custody after they allegedly attacked the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland on April 10th off the coast of Djibouti.
The men, who the US said are Somali, were arraigned in federal court in Norfolk today before US.
The judge, who read the charges through an interpreter, told the men that a piracy conviction carried a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Bloomberg