Pirates attack second U.S. vessel

Pirates have used rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons to attack another U.S. merchant ship off the coast of Somalia. The pirates damaged the Liberty Sun, which was carrying a cargo of food aid, but were not able to board it. Pirates attack second U.S. vessel The ship asked for assistance from the American warship involved in the rescue of a U.S. captain seized last week. Pirates have vowed to avenge the deaths of those killed in recent rescue operations by U.S. and French forces. The BBC says that although it is not clear if the latest attack was intended as the promised revenge, it shows that pirates have not been deterred by military operations. Despite renewed U.S. calls to quell piracy, four more vessels have been successfully seized over the past two days. Details of attack Owners of the Liberty Sun and the U.S. military confirmed reports of the latest, failed attack, which took place on Tuesday at midday local time. Some details were revealed in an e-mail from one of the crewmen to his mother at her home in Illinois, AP news agency reported. "We are under attack by pirates, we are being hit by rockets, also bullets," Thomas Urbik, 26, told his mother, Katy. "We are barricaded in the engine room and so far no-one is hurt. (A) rocket penetrated the bulkhead but the hole is small. Small fire, too, but put out." The Liberty Sun had been en route to Mombasa from Houston, Texas, when the attack took place. After coming under fire, the ship immediately requested assistance from the USS Bainbridge, said owners Liberty Maritime Corp in a statement. The navy destroyer arrived some hours later, by which time the pirates had gone. "We are grateful and pleased that no-one was injured and the crew and the ship are safe," said the Liberty Maritime Corp statement. The ship did sustain some damage, it said, but was able to resume its journey to Mombasa. Pirates killed The operation to free Captain Richard Phillips, who was held captive in a lifeboat for five days, ended with three pirates being shot dead by marksmen from the USS Bainbridge on Sunday. Somali pirate leaders - who have generally treated captives well in the hope of winning big ransom payouts - said they would avenge the deaths. "No-one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land," Omar Dahir Idle told AP by telephone from the Somali coastal town of Harardhere. Capt Phillips, who is in Kenya, is due to fly back to the U.S. on Wednesday. U.S. President Barack Obama promised on Monday to "halt the rise of piracy" in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. But in the 48 hours prior to the latest attack, four vessels have been seized in the same area:

Pirates attack second U.S. vessel

The ship asked for assistance from the American warship involved in the rescue of a U.S. captain seized last week.

Pirates have vowed to avenge the deaths of those killed in recent rescue operations by U.S. and French forces.

The BBC says that although it is not clear if the latest attack was intended as the promised revenge, it shows that pirates have not been deterred by military operations.

Despite renewed U.S. calls to quell piracy, four more vessels have been successfully seized over the past two days.

Details of attack

Owners of the Liberty Sun and the U.S. military confirmed reports of the latest, failed attack, which took place on Tuesday at midday local time.

Some details were revealed in an e-mail from one of the crewmen to his mother at her home in Illinois, AP news agency reported.

"We are under attack by pirates, we are being hit by rockets, also bullets," Thomas Urbik, 26, told his mother, Katy.

"We are barricaded in the engine room and so far no-one is hurt. (A) rocket penetrated the bulkhead but the hole is small. Small fire, too, but put out."

The Liberty Sun had been en route to Mombasa from Houston, Texas, when the attack took place.

After coming under fire, the ship immediately requested assistance from the USS Bainbridge, said owners Liberty Maritime Corp in a statement.

The navy destroyer arrived some hours later, by which time the pirates had gone.

"We are grateful and pleased that no-one was injured and the crew and the ship are safe," said the Liberty Maritime Corp statement.

The ship did sustain some damage, it said, but was able to resume its journey to Mombasa.

Pirates killed

The operation to free Captain Richard Phillips, who was held captive in a lifeboat for five days, ended with three pirates being shot dead by marksmen from the USS Bainbridge on Sunday.

Somali pirate leaders - who have generally treated captives well in the hope of winning big ransom payouts - said they would avenge the deaths.

"No-one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land," Omar Dahir Idle told AP by telephone from the Somali coastal town of Harardhere.

Capt Phillips, who is in Kenya, is due to fly back to the U.S. on Wednesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama promised on Monday to "halt the rise of piracy" in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

But in the 48 hours prior to the latest attack, four vessels have been seized in the same area: