The Other German Incident

Sailors from the frigate Brandenburg, participating in Operation Atalanta off Somalia, have shot and killed a pirate.

The German navy shot dead a suspected pirate off the coast of Somalia on Monday after a boat carrying five men failed to heed warning shots, the German military said.

"After an exchange of fire, one of the men on the boat was critically wounded and died despite immediate medical treatment," a statement said.

The suspected pirates threw weapons overboard after the exchange and officials are now inspecting their boat, the statement added.

It does not sound like many details have been released, at least in the English language news, because 'exchange of fire' implies the pirates were shooting at either the frigate or perhaps a helicopter? If they were shooting at the helicopter, that would be the second time in a month that pirates opened fire on a helicopter...

A pattern developing perhaps?