EU naval force says frees Liberian-flagged vessel with 17 crew

MOGADISHU, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) anti-piracy force (EUNAVFOR) said Friday that a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel, Basilisk, has been freed from suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia.

EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, the EU counter-piracy naval force in the region, said the 17 crew members are safe after being hijacked on Thursday about 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, the capital of S