Somali pirates escape with suspected police help
Police recaptured only 13 of the group, including one who was fatally wounded by gunfire.
There has been a resurgence in Somali piracy since April, with at least 15 attacks this year, the highest since 2013, according to the UN's International Maritime Organisation. (File photo)
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MOGADISHU — Around 30 suspected pirates, arrested during the rescue of a hijacked oil tanker, escaped while being taken to jail, with suspicions emerging that police might have assisted their getaway, four security sources told AFP on Sunday.
There has been a resurgence in Somali piracy since April, with at least 15 attacks this year, the highest since 2013, according to the UN's International Maritime Organisation.
An oil tanker, Sibu 1, also known as Seamull, was rescued after being intercepted by maritime police on Friday, with 41 suspected pirates arrested and taken to the port town of Garacad.
It was seen as a victory for authorities in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, who have been criticised for failing to act against the pirates, believed to benefit from protection by the local community.
The four local security sources interviewed by AFP said the decision to transport the suspects at night was unusual.
Then, along the route, the truck they were in experienced a burst tyre, and the suspects found the door was unlocked, allowing them to flee, the sources said.
Police recaptured only 13 of the group, including one who was fatally wounded by gunfire.
"In Puntland, we don't move (suspects) at night across multiple provinces. Then later on the trip, the pirates ran from the vehicle because the lock on the door was missing. I don't need to say anything else. It's obvious," said one source.
The brother of one of the suspects confirmed to AFP that he had escaped and was "safe".
"There had to be insiders within the armed security detail," one of the four sources said.
"The dirty (police) who were involved in the escape are no better than the pirates on the run," another added.
Somalia is ranked last on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, tied with South Sudan.
The Seamull tanker is sanctioned by the United States as part of Iran's "shadow fleet", accused of secretly exporting Iranian oil. It was seized by pirates off the coast of Yemen on August 20 and brought to Somali waters.