The European Union’s naval force has freed six Somali pirate suspects, a day after they were captured trying to hijack a vessel off the East African coast. Commander John Harbour said the men had to be released because the crew of the cargo vessel refused to give evidence. The suspected pirates were allegedly part of a gang who attacked the Panamanian-flagged ship MV Almezaan. Security guards on board the ship opened fire, killing one of the pirates before an EU warship arrived. This is the first time that private security guards on board a ship have killed a pirate during the spate of attacks off the Somali coast in recent years.