A Liberian-flagged merchant ship, "Odysseus" was attacked by armed men off the Algarve coast (Portugal) in the early hours of Thursday. The incident occurred approximately 10 km off the coast of Lagos, and Portuguese authorities are monitoring the situation in real time.
At least two crew members were reportedly taken hostage in the engine room. There is currently no official confirmation on the health status of the hostages, and it is unknown whether they were injured during the attack.
The vessel, a container ship, had departed from the port of Vigo, Galicia, and was headed for Malaga, Andalusia, when it was intercepted on the high seas. The motives for the attack are not yet known, but one hypothesis is a connection to international drug trafficking.
Given the gravity of the situation, the Portuguese Navy mobilized several resources to the area, including a helicopter with a special team prepared to conduct an assault operation on the ship. Additionally, several vessels were deployed to support the operation and provide immediate assistance if any casualties or injuries among the crew were confirmed.
Update: two hostages have now been released. The ship will be safely escorted to the port of Sines. Link
Sources: Sapo Notícias. Correio da Manhã . Folha Nacional
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