Jolly Roger: Pirates Getting Intel from England

The Somali pirates are getting help from landlubbers, according to a new report.

Hijack and kidnapping operations attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean are getting aide from a "consultant" team in London, according to a military intelligence document obtained by a Spanish radio station, the Guardian reported.

The pirate groups have "well-placed informers" in London who are in constant contact with bases in Somalia where attack plans are drawn up.

The "consultants" provide information on the target ships' cargo and courses.

In at least one instance, the pirates remained in contact with their London-based team even while on a hijacked ship, the Guardian reported.

The pirates network also includes outposts in Yemen, Dubai and the Suez canal, and the national flags of the attacked ships plays a major factor: British vessels are avoided, but it was unclear if it was because the pirates did not want to draw attention to their informants in London.

Working with NATO and the US. Navy, European countries have set up Operation Atalanta to combat the pirate scourge.

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