Pirates Die From Possible Chemical Weapons on Iranian Ship

The Digital Journal ^ | 14 July 2009 | Christopher Szabo

[ScottinVA]

Pirates who hijacked an Iranian ship have become sick and some have died after coming into contact with the ships’ cargo. The 40 pirates hijacked the M.V. Deyanat in the Gulf of Aden. The Sunday Times reported that the pirates became ill, suffered apparent skin burns and lost hair. The Director of the East African Seafarer’s Assistance Programme, Andrew Mwangira, said We don’t know exactly how many, but the information that I am getting is that some of them had died. There is something very wrong about that ship. The ship, which is owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) was carrying a declared cargo of ”minerals and industrial products,” but officials are convinced the ship was carrying chemical weapons to extremist Muslim rebels in Somalia. The U.S. Treasury Department says the IRISL regularly falsifies manifests and other documents to circumvent U.N. sanctions. Mwangira added: Our sources say it contains chemicals, dangerous chemicals.

[ScottinVA]

If this is indeed the case, it means the Iranians are projecting WMD worldwide.

[RummyChick]

Hasn’t this happened before with a hijacked ship?

[bert]

Is the article current or many months old?

[snowrip]

Maybe chemical... maybe nuclear.

[xcamel]

Chemical, no... Radioactive... you bettcha.

[Spktyr]

Yeah, IIRC a bunch of pirates discovered they’d hijacked something radioactive and died not long ago.

[ScottinVA]

I don’t specifically remember reading about it having happened before. If the Iranians are in fact putting this type of cargo on the high seas, I wouldn’t doubt it.

[Pistolshot]

This happened in August of 2008.

[csvset]

East African Seafarer’s Assistance Programme

Pirate Union ?

[Dixie Yooper]

If this is indeed the case, it means the Iranians are projecting WMD worldwide.

But even more important, the pirates have violated Islamic Law...

[ByteMercenary]

... occupational hazard ... call your local OSHA office.

(/sarc)

[NoLibZone]

Happened in Sept of 2008.

[trisham]

9/28/2008.

[jiggyboy]

Journalistic malpractice at digitaljournal.com. This story links to an article from September 2008.

[ScottinVA]

“This happened in August of 2008.”

Dammit. You’re right — just checked the embedded link. Wish the Digital Journal had made note of that.

[ScottinVA]

Disregard, all. Sorry for the confusion.

[dblshot]

Arrrggggh

[KingLudd]

I expect the families will sue in U.S. courts....and win.

[Cardhu]

September 28th 2008

[duckman]

“The Sunday Times reported that the pirates became ill, suffered apparent skin burns and lost hair.”

Just Cool.