Pirates take 12 crew from Swiss ship

A Swiss shipping company says a bulk carrier has been attacked by pirates off Nigeria’s coast and 12 of its 19 crew members have been kidnapped.

Geneva-based Massoel Shipping said the MV Glarus was attacked early Saturday as it sailed from Lagos to Port Harcourt with a load of wheat.

The firm said in a statement the pirates boarded the ship using long ladders and cut razor wire on the deck to make their way to the bridge. After destroying much of the ship’s communications equipment, the gang departed with 12 crew members. The firm is working for a “speedy” release.