Danish special forces from the Absalon command and support vessel have freed 25 people from a vessel hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast.

The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Ariella was under attack from pirates and sent out an SOS earlier today. Danish special forces from the Absalon answered the call and freed 25 crew members who had locked themselves into a store-room according to a spokesman for the EU naval force in area.

“The Danish forces did a great job,” John Harbour tells Politiken.

The current situation on the vessel remains unclear, whether the operation has ended or whether pirates have been detained.

Latest reports say the vessel is being searched for pirates.

The Admiral Danish Fleet Command Centre has confirmed that an operation is under way in the Gulf of Aden.

“It is ongoing as we speak and we are trying to get an indication of exactly what is happening. The only thing we know right now is that the Absalon is involved,” says Admiral Dansh Fleet Command Centre Spokeswoman Pernille Kroer.