A specially trained unit from a Danish warship has stormed and liberated a freighter kidnapped by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

The Slovenian freighter Ariella managed to send out a distress call shortly before armed pirates boarded her on Friday. The Danish vessel, Absalon, heard the signal and responded immediately. Its rescue team was able to free the 25 crewmembers, who had locked themselves in a safe room, without anybody being injured. A search of the ship revealed no trace of the pirates. It is not known what happened to them.

This is the first time that a hijacking in the Gulf of Aden has been ended in such a way. Normally, such boardings are avoided to ensure the safety of the kidnapped crew.

The Absalon is one of the NATO and European Union vessels patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa. They are doing so in a bid to combat the pirates who have seized large numbers of merchant ships in the area in recent years. 

Photo of Danish ship Absalon by hebster (flickr)