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Belgian police arrests one of Somali pirates’ leaders

The alleged warlord wanted to take a shot at politics

AP Photo/ Virginia Mayo

AP Photo/ Virginia Mayo

BRUSSELS, October 14. (ITAR-TASS) – Law enforcements have arrested Mohamed Abdi Hassan, leader of one of the most influential factions of the Somali pirates, RTBF TV channel reported.

Hassan is mentioned in UN reports on Somali piracy as of 2005 as one of the richest and most influential leaders of the Somali pirate factions.

Abdi Hassan was detained on Saturday as soon as he stepped down an airplane in Kenya. The suspect has been transported to Bruges, where he is to be officially charged.

Last year the millionaire warlord has announced plans to cut his ties with piracy and become a politician. However, by planning to visit the European center of politics and lobbyism, Brussels, Hassan has made first and, possibly, last mistake of his political career.

It was Abdi Hassan who coordinated pirated which seized The Pompei, a Belgian-registered ship. Its crew was taken captive for over two months until they were released on ransom. This incident added another order on Hassan’s arrest apart from the outstanding international one – national Belgian.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO, reported last Friday that the world economy loses 18 billion dollars annually to Somali piracy. NATO is engaged in Operation Ocean Shield which yields mixed results.

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

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