Dutch marines shot dead two Somali pirates and injured several in a confrontation in an operation to free a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Aden, the Volkskrant newspaper reported Monday.
Sixteen pirates were arrested following the firefight Sunday, according to the newspaper, DPA reported.
The pirates had reportedly opened fire when the marines onboard the frigate HMS Tromp came to the assistance of the fishing vessel that had been seized by the pirates.
The Tromp has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden as part of the European Union anti-piracy mission Atalanta. A year ago, its crew intervened to free a German container vessel, Taipan, from pirates.
The 10 Somali pirates arrested in the operation have been facing charges of endangering sea traffic and kidnapping in a court in Germany.