Somali pirates killed oil tanker crew before rescue, official tells BBC

Five crew members of an oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia were killed by their captors prior to a rescue operation. A senior regional official, Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade, confirmed that the deaths occurred before local security forces successfully retook control of the vessel.

This incident follows a broader trend of rising maritime piracy in the region. After a period of decline following the implementation of international naval operations in 2011, piracy off the Somali coast has seen a recent resurgence.