Suspected Somali pirates have hijacked a fuel tanker off the northeastern coast of Somalia. Local officials and the British military said the vessel was seized between Hafun and Bandarbeyla in Puntland on Wednesday as it travelled from Berbera to Mogadishu. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the hijacking, saying unauthorised people took control of the tanker and were manoeuvring it within Somali waters. The ship, owned by Pakistani interests and carrying fuel, had an unknown number of crew on board.