Somali pirates after thwarting an attempt to hijack a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden.The Royal Malaysian Navy says its commandos injured three pirates in a gunbattle and rescued 23 crew members of the Malaysian-owned MT Bunga Laurel late on Thursday.
The navy said in a statement that the rescue was carried out within less than two hours after pirates stormed the vessel with pistols and assault rifles.
Crew members had locked themselves in a safe room and activated a distress call.
Prime Minister Najib Razak told a news conference late on Friday that authorities are considering whether the pirates should be brought to Malaysia to face trial for the hijack attempt.