Spain Sending Signals to Somalia

This is how it started last time too, quiet movements of specific forces.

According to latest reports, the pirates who captured a Basque tuna fishing boat off the coast of Somalia last Sunday have demanded €400,000 euros for the safe release of the 26 hostages, 13 of whom are Spanish.

In related news, it seems that four Spanish Air Force planes have been sent to the area to keep an eye on the pirates from above and provide support for a possible special forces rescue mission.

Spain's Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos confirmed offcially yesterday that an Orion spotter plane equipped with radar had been deployed to provide air cover for the Spanish Navy newest battleship, the 'Méndez Núñez', which is now in place after being diverted from manoeuvres in the Red Sea.

According to a report in today's El País, the three other Spanish Air Force planes are a Falcon fighter jet, a Hercules transport plane and a Boeing 707.

We usually don't learn of ransom figures while the hostages are still being held, but €400,000 Euros is interesting. That is around half the total demanded from the French. There is a big difference this time though, the hostages were removed from the boat.

That doesn't usually happen, but says something about the region and lack of law enforcement, and perhaps support for piracy from the local population.